Today’s topic is one that I’m really looking forward to bringing to you, and it’s one that I really want you to think about: incorporating habits that allow you to have rest and recovery. As ‘doers’, so many of us tend to pile stuff on ourselves, and we freak out a bit at the thought of taking the time to rest, but I guarantee you, it is extremely important not only to your performance, but your immune system, your relationships, your enthusiasm, and your mental health as well.

We’ll begin by looking at the need for rest and recovery, differentiating between sleep and rest, and the addiction that so many of us have to the busy-ness of our lives. I’ll also review the three main areas in our lives which require rest and recovery, their causes and symptoms, and I’ll share a number of practical strategies to help address exhaustion in these areas. Throughout the episode, I share my own experiences with this topic, and I know that so many of you will see yourselves in the examples provided. Exhaustion is so prevalent in our society these days, it’s time for us to address this head on and take action on the need for rest and recovery – we owe it to ourselves.

This important topic is just one of those which I focus on with my Ascend Mastermind ladies, and as you may know, I have reopened my Ascend Mastermind to a new cohort! If you’re tired of playing small in your life and work, and you’re ready to identify what you want and how to get there (in a healthy way) while in community with like-minded women, then this Mastermind is definitely for you. Schedule a call with me at http://www.kellytravis.net/ascend or send an email at [email protected] with questions. There are only a few spots left, and we start in September, so there’s no time like the present to have a chat with me and see if this is right for you.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

- The need for rest and recovery

- Sleep’s role in rest

- My earlier podcast about sleep

- The addiction to busy-ness

- The three areas that need rest and recovery

- Causes and symptoms of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion and strategies for their rest and recovery

Quotes:

“We can’t show up our best over and over again if we’re depleted mentally, physically, emotionally.”

“I am always to blame for the burnout and overwhelm I experience – I create it, I fuel it, and you probably do, too, especially if you’re a doer.”

“We don’t consider rest as a necessity in our culture.”

“It is a mind-body-spirit issue.”

“Typically, the area you exert the most energy is where you need to put the most recovery in and rest.”

“Your body reveals what it needs from you, but in order to hear it, you have to slow down and listen.”

“97% of us state we feel tired most of the time.”

“Your mind chatter feels like it never stops.”

“Emotions are contagious.”

“Women tend to be more vulnerable to absorbing the stress and negativity of those around them.”

“Say ‘Yes’ to the things that light you up and to the people that light you up.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage - http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind - www.kellytravis.net/ascend

One topic that has really been top of mind for me lately, especially given the impact that the past year has had on all of us, is the importance of friendships in our lives and the need to not go through life alone. Throughout this pandemic, I’ve had periods of time where I’ve found myself thinking that I felt so lonely, detached and disconnected. That’s why I decided to take stock of the situation and follow some steps to work on this crucial area of my life. Today, I’d like to share some of these steps with you while we explore just how important it is to prioritize these relationships as we go through the many seasons of our lives.

I’ll begin by reviewing some of the challenges we face with friendships, particularly as we get older, differing individual friendship goals, and why it’s important to prioritize friendships. We’ll then look at what exactly you can do with all this information, including some questions to ask yourself, making a commitment to address your friendships, and how my Ascend Mastermind can help. If you’re like me, and you’ve maybe neglected some friendships, need to find new friends, or even get rid of some friends, believe me, this episode is for you.

It also means that Ascend Mastermind is definitely for you as well. Running as a six-month program this time around, registration for the next cohort is open until August 15. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Challenges that we face with friendships as we get older
•   Differing friendship goals
•   Why it’s important to prioritize friendships
•   What to do with all this information about friendships
•   Some questions to ask yourself
•   Making a commitment around friendship
•   How Ascend can help with friendships

Quotes:

“I don't need a lot of friends. I just need friends that I can go deep with.”

“As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have more friends, and more important to have real friends.”

“We do need people. We seek to build friendships with like minded people who can relate to us, and who we can see some of us in them.”

“We have to decide, do I want to put more time…into these relationships or is it time to let that fade out?”

“We go through all of these seasons in our life, and it's okay, if we have friendships for those seasons and those seasons only.”

“Inviting people in can be terrifying as we get older, but it's also a really wonderful opportunity.”

“That's why I love Ascend because new friendships are made in every cohort, because it's people coming together that otherwise wouldn't have met.”

“Some research even says friendships are just as important to our well being as eating right and exercising.”

“I want to emphasize again how important it is for you to reconnect.”

“We all experience self doubt, but our friends know us, they know who we are, they know what we're capable of. They know how to lift us up and remind us of what we can do. It is so important to have that circle, to have folks in your corner.”

“They can give me a different perspective than a partner or a colleague.”

“People in our lives, people we trust that we have relationship with, can help us tremendously with stress, which again has been why 2020 was so difficult, and coming out of it has been a challenge.”

“Make the time, make the commitment to evaluate where you're at, and then be intentional about what you're going to do about it.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage - http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind - www.kellytravis.net/ascend

Easily one of the most talked about stories coming out of the current Olympic Games is Simone Biles’ decision to pull out of some events for mental health reasons. Her actions have generated a vast amount of opinions representing many different views, and I find that there is so much involved with both her decision and the reaction to it that we can learn from and apply to our own lives. Join me today as, together, we engage in this very timely case study of strength, leadership, and courage.

We’ll start by reviewing both who Simone is and the decision she made at the Olympics this year, particularly in light of the narrative surrounding what we are led to believe strength truly means. We delve into the variety of opinions which her decision generated, some of the reasons behind these views, 3 lessons we can learn from the entire situation, and the comments offered by some of Simone’s fellow gymnasts, including a definition of just what exactly ‘the twisties’ are. Lessons learned through sports have always proven transferrable to our daily lives, and Simone’s actions at the Olympics this year exemplify this notion providing thought provoking guidance for us all.

So much of what we learn here today is also explored ever further in my Ascend Mastermind, the next cohort of which is now open for one more week as a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Simone Biles and the decision she made during these Olympics
•   Narratives surrounding what strength is supposed to be
•   Opinions regarding her decision and some reasons behind them
•   3 things we can learn from Simone
•   The ‘twisties’
•   Other gymnasts’ perspectives on Simone’s decision

Quotes:

“Recognizing that you're not okay to compete or participate in anything…and withdrawing by fighting the need to keep your pride, is strength and courage and leadership.”

“Strength is in recognizing that you are human, and you can't do it all the time.”

“Anytime we see someone behave in a way we are uncomfortable with doing ourselves, it stirs the emotional part inside of us.”

“Judging other people's coping decisions is the lowest form of arrogance.” 

“This idea that humans need to do whatever is necessary to just keep going, to perform, to sacrifice their whole self, our whole self, is what makes us, you know, what leads us to burnout, leads us to emotional distress, physical distress, health issues, vulnerable, to being taken advantage of, right, all of these things.”

“Where am I still trying to live up to others' expectations, and how am I letting myself down by doing that?”

“Ignoring what our body and our mind are trying to tell us, is an epidemic in and of itself, and our society lives on autopilot.”

“What would happen if you started to choose you?”

“I believe she doubled down on winning when she opted out.”

“You don't owe anybody anything. And you especially don't owe them your body, your health or your autonomy.”

“We want to support others, we want to support ourselves. We need to listen and prioritize our health and well being, and we need to let go of expectations or perceived expectations.”

“The more we hear of people prioritizing their health and well being, the more we are given permission to do the same.”

“If this is something you want to continue to work on while you work on your goals, if you want to be able to work on that narrative, so that you do believe that you can prioritize yourself while also working on your goals, definitely check out Ascend. That's what we do.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage - http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind - www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

Why Naomi Osaka's French Open Withdrawal is a Mental Health Win

Adam Grant's Instagram Page

Former Gymnasts Explain the Dangerous 'Twisties' that Prompted Simone Biles to Withdraw

Catherine Burns on Twitter

For far too long we’ve been conditioned by society to believe that success is to be found only in the result - in fact, many dictionaries still define it this way. Well, that’s coming to an end here today. In this week’s episode, we’re going to change that old perspective, and I’m going to share with you a much healthier and more accurate definition, while also demonstrating just why this traditional way of looking at success is such a problem.

I’ll start by looking at various definitions of success, including my own, exploring society’s narrative regarding it, and running through some of the problems with the results oriented definition. We’ll finish up by discussing such crucial strategies as preparing for curveballs, focusing on the process, setting mini milestones, and, above all, having fun. Naturally, we all want to succeed in the various aspects in our lives – listen in today to get a better understanding of how to achieve that in a healthy way.

Defining success and what it looks like in our own lives is also a key component in my Ascend Mastermind, the next cohort of which is now open as a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Defining success
•   Society’s narrative about success
•   The problems with being so focused on the outcomes/results
•   Preparing for curveballs
•   Focusing on the process
•   Setting mini milestones
•   Having fun

Quotes:

“I now believe that success is about starting and staying in the game or the process, whatever you want to call it, pivoting when things get hard, getting up when you get knocked down, taking care of yourself through the process rather than falling victim to the hustle and the grind.”

“We have to acknowledge that there will be challenges that come along on the way towards a goal. It is vital to recognize this because it's the only way we will stay the course.”

“If you have your heart set on following a straight line, and it looks a little ugly, a little messy, then what's the likelihood of you staying in it?”

“The success in that was the process, definitely not the finish.”

“If we set ourselves up for failure at the beginning, and success, again, is based on the results, and the results are not really realistic in our particular life, then it's kind of sabotage.”

“Success is showing up and learning every day.”

“We have to force ourselves to really focus on the process because everybody's journey looks different.”

“For me to have a healthy relationship with running and for me to enjoy it, letting go of outcomes has to be a part of it.”

“Why the hell are we doing this stuff if we can't enjoy it in the process?”

“When you can change your perception of what success is and you can let go of the outcome and just focus on today, the results will come.”

“Look at milestones, consider potential curveballs anytime you look at a goal or set a goal, and plan for the fun.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s Homepage

Ascend Mastermind 

How Fun Impacts Our Success

What motivates you? How can you feel more fulfilled? Why is change sometimes so hard? These are some of the big questions that we are going to dive into here today. As a certified Enneagram Coach, my work with clients always involves the use of this fantastic assessment tool which not only reveals how we behave, but more importantly, why we behave the way we do. It also leads us to identify our blind spots, triggers, and defense mechanisms, as well as how to confront them, and that’s what I want to share with you here today.

We’ll start by looking at how we protect our idealized self-image, the blind spots and defenses that are involved, and what exactly the Enneagram is and what it reveals about us. I’ll also use a number of examples to demonstrate the blind spots, triggers, and defense mechanisms associated with each Enneagram type and offer some ways to confront them as well. We’ll finish up by exploring what exactly you can do with this valuable information, including implementing the ‘lengthen the pause’ strategy. As you know, we’re all about moving forward and growing here at ‘She Doesn’t Settle’, and, as you’ll hear today, the Enneagram, with all that tells us about ourselves and others, is truly one of the keys to making that happen.

That is precisely why the Enneagram also plays such a crucial role in my Ascend Mastermind, the next cohort of which is now open as a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Protecting our idealized self image
•   Blind spots and defenses
•   The Enneagram
•   Examples of blind spots and confronting them
•   Triggers and some examples of them
•   Defense mechanisms and examples of them
•   What you can do with this information
•   Lengthening the pause

Quotes:

“It really is a map for understanding our behavior.”

“We spend a lot of time creating an idealized self image for ourselves. And we do everything within our power to protect it.”

“We go through life on autopilot, we don't think about how we're behaving, how we're showing up. And we filter information through the biases of our personality.”

“We just have to be aware of those aspects of our personality that we're subconsciously choosing to ignore or avoid.”

“Confronting these blind spots involves looking objectively at our patterns and asking what change to my self image am I resisting?

“It's just really interesting to pay attention to these and to think through what might be your trigger.”

“If we don't process the events in some way that feels good, then again, it just kind of compounds.”

“Every personality is just so dynamic and interesting.”

“Rather than reacting blindly to triggers, you can start to work towards a more intentional response, a calmer response.”

“The goal is to get to a point where we're able to pause and choose a response - we're not led by old patterns that are not helpful.”

“When I work with my clients, we always take this a step further, a couple of steps further, with specific questions they can ask themselves to help challenge that core belief that lies at the heart of every defense mechanism.”

 “When you know who you are, and then you understand the motivations of the other people in the group. It's so powerful because you get to help one another.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage - http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind - www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

Research resources:

An Introduction to the Power of the Enneagram

If there is one thing that we all indisputably have in common, it’s that we are all aging. What we may not have in common is our attitude toward this universal fact, and whether we find it limiting, empowering, or somewhere in between. Having recently turned 41 myself, this topic has been on my mind, and so, fully aware that we are all at different stages in this aging process, today I want to address it head on by sharing my own experience, research, and especially my belief that it’s never too late to pursue your goals and be who you want to be.

To start I’ll share some of the feedback I received regarding my post about feeling uncomfortable turning 41, the reality of getting older and what makes it complicated, and the physical and mental changes that occur with aging. We’ll also look at the anti-aging industry, some research that I have found and my response to it, some of the positives to be found in getting older, and, most importantly, what we can all do to make this process more enjoyable and to keep moving forward. Today, I share with you many of my own experiences and observations in this area, and, as always, I would love to hear about yours. So, please be sure to send me your feedback and maybe even share with me your goals and how you’re definitely not going to let aging get in your way of achieving them.

So much of what we talk about here today is also part of my Ascend Mastermind, which is now open as a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Kelly’s post about being uncomfortable turning 41 and the feedback she received
•   The reality of getting older and what makes it complicated
•   The physical and mental changes that occur with aging
•   The anti-aging industry
•   Some research regarding aging and Kelly’s response to it
•   Some positives of getting older
•   What we can do to make aging more enjoyable and keep moving forward

Quotes:  

“I'm also a big believer that it doesn't fucking matter how old you are.”

“I was okay with being uncomfortable. I didn't see it as a bad thing. It was just real.”

“It is a constant reminder that I need to be strong and healthy, both mind and body. And I want to believe that my best years are ahead of me.”

“As much as I don't want to age, I really love being here. I feel so much more confident and so much stronger, even than just when I was in my 30s.”

“The wrinkly leg skin? Can we talk about that? Like right above the knee? What is that?”

“I think that society has really pushed women in particular to try to stay as young as possible.”

“I think one of the hardest parts about aging is that you feel young inside, but your body is showing, like, it's a little weathered, it's aging.”

“This is what we do in Ascend...we're challenging the thought that, you know, ‘It's too late’ or ‘I should just stay comfortable’ or ‘I should stay in this place.’ ”

“Society drives people in every way to look beautiful, which is why the physical part messes with us mentally.”

“We've got to be aware that the anti-aging industry is out to make money.”

“With age comes wisdom.”

“And I think the key to enjoying this stage of our life, staying out of the bottom out period that they refer to, is to not let responsibilities rule us, and to re-engage with or keep doing the things that we find fun and enjoyable.”

“We've got to really embrace where we're at and, and be kind to our body, and thank our body for showing up everyday and doing the things it does.”

“Instead of worrying about what you haven't done, how about you figure out what you can still do? It is not too late to be who you want to be.”

“I don't want you to be sitting back and just waiting for the right time, or constantly telling yourself that you can't because it's too late.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage -  http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind - www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

How Fun Impacts Our Success

The Science Behind Strength Building and Anti-Aging

Doubling Down on Self-Care

Its Time to Improve Our Health and Immune System

Why You Must Build Rest into Your Busy Schedule

Five Ways to Improve Your Energy and Wellbeing

Allyson Felix's Twitter Page 

I am so happy to share my good friend, Shannon Elhart with you all today. Shannon and I first met in a Mastermind around six years ago and we’ve kept in touch and supported each other over the years as we both experienced a lot of evolution in our businesses as well as our lives. Starting out as a teacher of severely emotionally impaired middle school students, Shannon went on to get a master's degree in counselor education and psychology which allowed her to become a counselor for children, and then went back to school to get additional certifications to work with adults as well. Her current project, The Forgiveness Tour, is as ambitious as it is necessary these days, and she tells us all about it here today. I do want to make you aware upfront that Shannon’s personal story, much of which she recounts in our conversation, includes struggles such as her experience with rape, the loss of her child, and depression. She uses these challenges to help others through her work, and we talk about it in depth during the interview.

Once again, I begin by checking in on how my guest is really doing these days, and then we explore ayahuasca ceremonies and Shannon’s experiences with them. From there, she walks us through her story including details of the loss of her son, Jonathan, her ‘epiphany bubble’, and the value of making choices and consistently asking ‘why’ in life. Shannon also talks about her revelation regarding the power of forgiveness, its four types and her advice regarding them, and her Forgiveness Tour. Our discussion concludes with an explanation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (A.C.E.s), their prevalence and impact in the world today, and exactly how she built her Tour Bus. A formidable woman who has done the work to channel her struggles and lessons learned into helping others, Shannon Elhart’s story of resilience and pursuing her mission in life will both inform and inspire as you listen in today.

Also, enrollment for my next Ascend Mastermind is now open, which is now a six month program and this cohort is starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   How Shannon is really doing these days
•   Ayahuasca ceremonies and Shannon’s experience with them
•   Shannon’s story
•   Her son, Jonathan
•   Shannon’s epiphany bubble
•   Making choices
•   Asking ‘why’
•   The four types of forgiveness and Shannon’s advice regarding them
•   Her Forgiveness Tour
•   Adverse Childhood Experiences (A.C.E.s)
•   Building her bus

Quotes:

“I did fall into my deepest depression a few months ago…but it was a gift.”

“I had a moment of clarity where I just opened up to God and the universe like I do and just said, ‘Okay, what do I do? Because I don't want to end my life, but I can't live this way.’ ”

“Everyone has to find their own way, and I think that's really more of an intuitive journey.”

“Oh my God, anyone in their early 20s, I'm like, please just use this decade to explore and get to know yourself and follow your heart.”

“It just felt right for me to carry him, and he was born September 21 of 2000. He did pass away the next day, and it was the most difficult experience I've ever been through, but it was also the most beautiful, the most powerful.”

“Who am I? And why am I living the life I'm living? Why am I doing the things that I'm doing? Why do I believe the things that I believe?”

“I feel honored that he was my son for such a short lifetime, and he changed my life in such a beautiful, dramatic way.”

“What finally did it was…adding self forgiveness, forgiving myself for all the things that I had done under the influence, but also forgiving people who had hurt me, who gave me reason to drink.”

“Healing the pain in your past will make everything about your life better. And the more you do it...the better your life becomes.”

“Our children now are experiencing more and more pain, and that's because we are passing it down.”

“It's too easy to judge ourselves. We just have to look back and reflect and learn and grow and then leave it behind. But we have to do that with other people too.”

“What does it feel like when you forgive?”

“My goal is to, you know, break the stigma of getting help with emotional pain, and communicate that there are many modalities you can use, but also to build more compassion and connection.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage -  http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind -  www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

Research resources:

Shannon's Homepage

Shannon Elhart: Counselor on YouTube

Shannon Elhart on YouTube

The Forgiveness Tour

The Forgiveness Tour Facebook Page

The Forgiveness Tour Instagram Page

Make a Donation to The Forgiveness Tour

Dr. Joe Dispenza Homepage

The Work of Byron Katie

Lisa Lee Homepage

We are all in for a special treat today, as life empowerment coach, enneagram guide, trainer, speaker, and freedom creatrix, Jessica Denise Dickson, joins me on the podcast. Jessica believes that when Black women heal, the world heals, and that the path to personal and collective healing comes through embodying our enneagram and liberation work, which, in turn, echoes into our communities and beyond, changing the world. She is so very much the perfect example of someone who doesn’t settle, and I know that you are going to absolutely love her just as much as I do as you listen in today.

As with all guests these days, we start by finding out how she is really doing currently, and then we explore Jessica’s journey to the work she does along with the lessons she has learned through her varied work experiences. She details what it means to live out her faith, how growing up as a preacher’s kid (PK) has shaped and informed her, the impact of purity culture, and anti-racism. We also look at various aspects regarding enneagram work including some misconceptions about it, how it helps people to do the work of liberation, and precisely what it is and is not. This is a conversation that goes deep, delves into so many crucial topics, and, thanks to the passion and mastery which Jessica brings to her work, is undoubtedly going to give you the chills.

Speaking of deep and rewarding conversations, enrollment for my next Ascend Mastermind is now open, which, in response to some valuable feedback I’ve received, will now be a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   How Jessica is really doing these days
•   Jessica’s journey to her current work
•   Lessons she learned during her varied work experiences
•   Living out her faith
•   How being a preacher’s kid (PK) shaped her
•   Joshua Harris’ I Kissed Dating Goodbye
•   Purity culture
•   Misconceptions regarding the enneagram
•   Her current work
•   Anti-racism
•   Sonya Renee Taylor’s The Body Is Not an Apology
•   How the enneagram helps people do the work of liberation
•   What the enneagram is and what it’s not

Quotes:

“The service that I'm providing for people is something that I have been doing for a while, but the business part of it is super new.”

“When I was growing up, I was called an Oreo - black on the outside, white on the inside.”

“What I believe is that God created us, that there is a being that we were created by. I do believe that, and that God created us to be human, and to be fully human.”

“We get to live the beauty and nuance of the lives that we have.”

“Living out our faith is reclaiming the fullness of our humanity and allowing space for others to, as well, while figuring out what there is to be faithful to.”

“We're fearfully and wonderfully made.”

“The Church has been a big source of the perpetuation of white supremacy as an institution.”

“I started my business really, from this idea that when Black women heal, that the world heals.”

“We don't just work for ourselves, we bring everyone along. There's no...rugged individualism that comes from white supremacy. We don't believe in that.”

“I've dealt with swastikas being drawn on doors, with the N-word being written on people's doors, with hate speech and hate crimes in my rule.”

“I've shifted from focusing on the narrowness of anti-racism, which is also great, to liberation, which is, ‘What does it look like for us to be free, not just personally, but collectively?’ ”

“True freedom will always liberate others.”

“It really wakes you up to what you have normalized, and what you've just kind of fallen into.”

“The work of the enneagram allows us to see ourselves as more than just those things that we put out into the world, like being the helper, being the strong one, being the protector, being the efficient one, being the achiever - all of these ways that we see ourselves. It gives us a chance to really reclaim all of who we are.”

“We do a lot of work around the nervous system and how the nervous system is programmed by white supremacy.”

“My work is not just finding a better way to express myself, it's actually looking and seeing ‘Okay, what are the ways that I know I'm going to be perceived because of white supremacy?’ ”

“Our souls were created to be more than just surviving or even trying to thrive in white supremacy.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage -  http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind -  www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

Research resources:

Jessica's Homepage

Jessica's Facebook

Jessica's Instagram

Jessica's Business Instagram

Jessica's Linktree

The Body Is Not an Apology

Today’s topic is one that I have been thinking about for quite a while and which has really hit home recently for me - the subject of fun. I ran my third marathon this past weekend, and fun played such a huge role in my success that I want to share the science behind it and the power it holds in all our lives. Too often seen as simply a diversion, infusing fun into our work and personal lives can have extraordinary effects, so let’s dig in together and discover precisely how to achieve this.

I’ll start by sharing my marathon experience and the part that fun played within it, and then we’ll look at the importance of defining what fun means for each of us before diving into the vast amount of scientific studies outlining the many benefits of having fun in our lives. We’ll also explore the positive impact that fun can have in our work, and, perhaps most importantly, I’ll review a number of steps you can start taking today to infuse a spirit of fun in your daily life. The time has come to throw away any old notions of fun being simply a diversion from success and give it the credit it is due for being the actual route to a successful life – let’s begin that work together here today.

If you want to learn how to infuse fun into your life even further, that is something we definitely act upon in my Ascend Mastermind, and, happily, enrollment is now open for the next session, which, in response to some valuable feedback I’ve received, will now be a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Kelly’s third marathon
•   Defining fun for yourself
•   The science behind the benefits of having fun
•   John and Julie Gottman’s work
•   Fun and work
•   How to start having fun

Quotes:

“He told us all that our number one goal for this particular race was to have fun.”

“I promise you that my success this past weekend has a lot to do with what I shared with you in last week's episode.”

“I did run a PR and I did win the race.”

“I have really learned to appreciate every fumble, every perceived failure, every experience, as a way to get better, as a way to improve, to look for opportunities.”

“People who achieve big things and reach their goals, they're the ones who have fun doing it.”

“Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life, it is the route to get there.” 

“This is who you are, don't stifle the things that you enjoy, because they make us feel better, they help us show up in our lives better.”

“It is the antidote to stress.”

“We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

“Couples who are happy know how to have fun together.”

“Get clear about what this looks like, and then make time for it.”

“Who cares if I'm not the best runner? If I'm having fun and I'm enjoying it, that is the most important thing.”

“We can look for inspiration from others because sometimes we don't even consider things to be something that could bring us joy.”

“Look for patterns in what was fun.”

“Think about the things that might be falsely creating fun in your life, too, and whether or not you want to keep those around.”

“Play around with being intentional about having more fun.”

“Letting go, as a rule, can create a lot of success.”

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage -  http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind -  www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

Research resources:

British Study: https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls-studies/1970-british-cohort-study/

Workplace study: https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/article/view/1982

This week, as I prepare for my second marathon of 2021, I’m struck once again by the sheer amount of mental energy that it takes to stay on track for achieving our goals. As we all know, that first day of starting to work on a new goal is full of positive energy, but today, I want to talk with you about all those other days in between. Those days after the first day and before the day you actually achieve your goal can be filled with hurdles and curveballs that can take you off course, and today, I want to show you how to overcome them.

This episode is all about getting past that first day of reaching your goal by understanding that adversity will arise, accessing the one motivational tool that works, examining how you’re approaching your goal, and understanding the difference between knowing, doing, and being. We’ll also explore the importance of ‘clearing the foundation’, making small, daily efforts, and the conclusions of a study regarding motivation. We all experience the excitement of starting to go after the goals we have chosen to pursue, and we also all go through those days in between when staying on course gets a lot tougher. Join me today to learn how to persevere and remain on track to achieve the success you deserve.

Today’s topic is definitely something we talk about a lot in my Ascend Mastermind, and, happily, enrollment is now open for the next session, which, in response to some valuable feedback I’ve received, will now be a six month program starting at the end of the summer. If you’re a high achieving entrepreneur or high level professional who is ready to uplevel your health and well-being (mental, emotional, physical) while creating and pursuing goals you actually want then this Mastermind is the perfect opportunity for you. You’ll get to strengthen your habits, get clear on what you want and be held accountable by, and find support among like-minded women as you ascend. Check out the details here: www.kellytravis.net/ascend, and if you would like to hear first hand from someone who has actually gone through one of my Ascend Masterminds, let me know and we can make that happen as well.

As always, if there is ever a topic you would like me to discuss or a guest you’d like me to interview on the podcast, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I would love to hear from you!

The Finer Details of This Episode:

•   Getting past Day 1 of reaching your goal
•   Recognizing that there will be adversity
•   The one motivational tool that works
•   The 2011 Harvard Business Review study on motivation conclusions
•   Looking at how you’re approaching your goal
•   The difference between knowing, doing, and being
•   Clearing the foundation
•   Small, daily efforts

Quotes:

“Day 1 has a different kind of energy than day 2, or day 55.”

“When we recognize that adversity is going to come, we can use adversity as a tool that will allow you to manage things in the midst of chaos. You'll move forward knowing it's part of the process.”

“Adversity usually tests you to see how bad you want it.”

“Progress keeps us on track...that's why I don't shut up about simple baby steps, doable tasks.”

“Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and perceptions during a work day, the single most important is making progress in meaningful work.”

“When we focus on small daily actions tied to the larger goal, we feel invigorated and excited and inspired, and we move the needle.”

“What I do in my work with clients, and encourage you to do, is to reverse engineer that goal that you create, and bring it down to the smallest task that you can do today that gets you closer to that goal.”

“Self-trust is huge in my work.”

“When I work with clients, it's about creating a clear foundation, which is critical, and then integrating moving from knowing to doing and eventually being.”

“If you've got a nice shiny, pretty goal that you're going to pursue, don't put it on top of a whole bunch of crappy habits.”

“What is the small thing you can do every day?”

“We have to drop the focus on the finish line and focus on the gap between day one and the finish.”

“This is the work we do in Ascend.”

“My goal is to get you to a place where you trust yourself and you believe in yourself and you're able to go after whatever you want. 

Show Links:

Kelly’s homepage -  http://www.kellytravis.net

Ascend Mastermind -  www.kellytravis.net/ascend 

Research resources:

'The Power of Small Wins' from Harvard Business Review