SHE SPEAKS SHE HEALS Podcast with Doctor Shannon

Not just any date…"D.A.T.E.?" What comes up for you when you read this? We look to our lives to entertain, support, and romance us. But are YOU doing it for YOUR LIFE? YOUR DATE called TODAY? Today I'll uncover three (3) ways you may be cheating on YOU!

SHOW NOTES...

Besides death of a loved one, I don't think there's anything worse than being cheated on. Except being the one who's cheating.

Today we're talking about another type of cheating.

Are you cheating on your life? The DATE called TODAY. The DATE called your LIFE.

If you're the one cheating on your DATE…you have my deepest condolences, because you're robbing yourself of such an incredible life, and experience. You're missing out on a life of love in ALL areas of your life.

If you're cheating on your DATE, you're not going to experience a true love in your life.

As I've said, we look to our lives to entertain, support, and romance us. But are YOU doing it for YOUR LIFE? YOUR DATE called TODAY?

Are you willing to entertain, support, and romance the fullest expression of your life?

Do you believe that your life, or someone in it "should" romance you? But are you doing it for your DATE called TODAY?

If you want joy and happiness in your life, you must be willing to bring the joy and happiness.

Here are 3 ways in which you may be cheating your life:

1. Romancing, spending time with, and/or focusing on the DATE called, "PAST."

How much time are spending each day romancing, feeling sorry for, blaming, or living in your PAST?

This is no different than sitting across the table from someone you're on a date with, and he/she is on the phone speaking with someone else the entire time. Distracted and not present.

We've all experienced it, or perhaps been the one doing it.

Are you willing to STOP, get out the PAST, and start dating your PRESENT?

2. Spending a lot of time in the FUTURE, and romancing it.

Like "if it could only be this way"…"it should be this way"…"why isn't it that way?"

This is no different than being with someone, and they're wishing that you were better, bigger, bolder, brighter, more beautiful, or a billionaire! Instead of being with the person in front of them.

Are you doing this to your DATE, my dear?

Are you spending a lot of time wishing your life was something better? Something in the future? Instead of being committed to today?

Be present. Be focused on, and give attention to TODAY.

There's nothing wrong with looking into the future, and saying, "Yes, that's where we're headed." But if you're not IN your DATE, with your DATE…TODAY…you're cheating.

3. Being in your day, but not fully engaging or connecting with it. Going through the motions. You show up, but aren't really into it. You complain. You expect your DATE to entertain or romance you, but you're not fully there.

If you're doing any of these three, you're cheating your DATE...YOUR LIFE. Stop cheating. And start winning in your life.

Start loving and being loved.

When all of US love our lives, commit, and be present to our DATE…until death do us part, guess what? Our DATE will love us back, and we'll experience a love like we've never experienced before.

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. DATE…

Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

For today's SACRED S.O.L. STEP, plan a DATE for yourself TODAY. How would you like to romance, entertain, and be present with the DATE OF TODAY? Then do it. TODAY.

Be present with it today.

YOU'RE ONLY ONE DATE AWAY…

You're only one date away from the life that you desire. The one you're seeking. The one you'd love to love. Love it now. Love the DATE that's in front of you. The DATE you're in today.

YOU'RE ONLY ONE DATE AWAY. TODAY.

Thanks for being here. I'd love to hear from you. Please stop by WomenSippingOnLife.com and let me know how you're doing.

I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

No, it's not "live by accident"…we're living on purpose. Imagine going LIVE on Facebook and not knowing you're LIVE. What would people see and hear? It happened to me (Yep!), and I received some great insight from it. Here's today's SACRED S.O.L. STORY and what happened...

SHOW NOTES...

Have you ever dialed someone's phone number by accident, OR gone LIVE on Facebook without knowing it?

This happened to me!!

I was LIVE on Facebook for about 3+ minutes…and yes, I swore!

Upon realizing we were LIVE, instantly my mind when into slow-motion REWIND.

Our first reaction was that we had just gotten caught doing something wrong or inappropriate. Even though we hadn't.

My thoughts were: Oh my goodness, what did I say? Did I say or do anything inappropriate? What are people going to think? How's it going to interpreted or perceived? Is it going to be taken out of context?

Our minds were racing!

Imagine what that would be like.

The best part was being able to live through the experience of what it truly means to live EXPOSED, UNCOVERED, and UNFILTERED.

We've been talking about this in the past several podcast episodes. It's about living WIDE OPEN and completely authentic.

If this is true, then it doesn't matter if it's behind (or in front of) closed doors, right? There are no closed doors!

Well, until you find yourself in the middle of an EXPOSURE, and it feels very intense!

It felt as though we were "caught", so therefore we must have been "inappropriate"…even though we were authentic and appropriate. It was a strange feeling that made me wonder how deep-seated the belief is that exposed = inappropriate. (See EPISODE 26: Live Unfiltered)

It takes courage and truth to live completely authentically…unfiltered, uncovered, unafraid, unashamed, etc.

Addictions are patterns of behavior that don't serve you, are no longer working, or were never working for you.

The Shame Cycle keeps many trapped in patterns that cause people to cover, hide, and live ashamed. (See EPISODE 29: Live Unashamed)

What's privacy? Would you be willing to bare your soul to the world in an authentic way - in front of, or behind closed doors?

One of my BIG TAKE-AWAYS was this:

Live like everyone's watching.

You may have heard the quote: "Dance like no one's watching."

I remember the first time I heard that, I thought…hmm...dance like everyone's watching. (Authentically.)

Dance and live life like everyone's watching.

Living exposed, authentically, unfiltered, uncovered is so much easier than hiding, covering up, and living ashamed and afraid. But in that moment of EXPOSURE, it feels very vulnerable (and not so easy.)

Since I haven't had an addiction, the only thing I can compare it to would be the shame I felt about going through three divorces. For a long time it wasn't easy to speak about openly, without worrying about what people were going to say or think about me.

I began speaking about it and sharing my story, only because I knew it was (is) going to help a lot of people.

While watching a young man that struggled with the shame of his addiction, I had a lot of empathy for him.

It takes a lot of courage to live life exposed.

If you were being watched LIVE, without knowing it, would you feel inappropriate, ashamed, etc.? How would you feel? And why?

It made me ask myself the same questions. Especially the question of: How can I live my life even more authentically...in TRUTH?

Live like everyone's watching…because chances are, THEY ARE on some level.

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. S.T.E.P.

1. Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself)

2. Imagine yourself in this situation, and ask these questions:

What would my life look like if I were LIVE and didn't know it for 24 hours?

What would people see?

Am I being authentic behind, and in front of, closed doors?

I hope this helps you, and would love to hear from you!

Come on over to WomenSippingOnLife.com.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

Have you ever found yourself constantly apologizing for yourself, or saying, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…for everything", OR expecting everyone else to apologize for their behaviors because you feel hurt? If this is YOU, then this is the perfect episode for you.

SHOW NOTES...

First, let's go back to yesterday's SACRED S.O.L. STEP, did you write a Love Letter to yourself? If not, please do yourself a favor, and do so. If you you haven't yet listened to EPISODE 031: Live Unconditionally Loved, I encourage you to listen, and take immediate action.

Once you've written your letter, the next step is to stand in front of the mirror, and read it out loud to yourself.

When I wrote my first book, Dr. Shannon Knows…The 12 Steps of WELLTHY People: How to Make Healthy Your Habit, I wrote about this, because it's been a huge step in my own healing. Since then I've used it with all my clients, and it's been very effective.

My best friend read my book, and did this exercise. It was such a breakthrough for her. I believe it will be for you too. Up to that point, she had no idea that she hadn't been loving herself well.

It can be emotional, but feel into it with LOVE.

You're worth it.

There's no condition that's bigger than, or too much for, you to overcome, break into, and breakthrough, to show yourself how much you love yourself, and how lovable and loving you really are.

The word "lovable" means able to love. If you feel unlovable, the greatest way to position yourself is to take the ability that you have to love, and give it to YOU. Once you're able to love, you CANNOT be unlovable.

I'd love to hear what you experience from doing the Love Letter exercise.

Today we're continuing with the "UN-Series."

What would it look like for you to LIVE UNAPOLOGETIC?

If you find yourself apologizing for you, saying you're sorry, and taking on everyone else's responses as your responsibility, then today's the day to get some new insight.

Women constantly say, "I'm sorry."

Please stop excusing or making excuses for yourself.

The next time you say it, ask yourself what you're really saying. Are you dismissing your feelings, or your need to express them or yourself?

Ask yourself what you're really SORRY for. As well as why you're saying it.

There's so much power in the words we speak. Out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks. What's your heart saying?

Is there a belief in your heart that says you need to apologize for yourself? Or that you must dismiss what you think, feel, or do?

The difference between an apology and an, "I am sorry" is also key.

"I am" is the most powerful statement.

Be selective when choosing the words that follow an "I am" statement. Stop claiming what you don't desire, or something that's simply not true.

There's a difference between saying, "I apologize" and "I'm sorry." Apologizing for a mistake, and being sorry for BEING the mistake, by saying, "I'm sorry" is the difference.

You can make mistakes, but it doesn't mean YOU ARE a mistake. Like I spoke about in the episode, Live Unashamed (EPISODE 29).

Shame is the difference between living apologetically and living unapologetically.

You can say, "I apologize" when necessary, and still LIVE UNAPOLOGETIC.

This is an UNAPLOGETIC LIFE:

No longer saying, "I'm sorry" for who you are.

No longer saying, "I'm sorry" for having feelings.

Apologizing when necessary, but not because you feel responsible for others.

Own your OWN actions and intentions.

It comes down to INTENTION.

What's your intention?

Own your mistakes, but don't be sorry for who you are in making them.

What's this idea of "Sorry. Not sorry?" There's no more need to say sorry for not being sorry.

You don't have to apologize for everything you do in your life.

If you feel the huge need to give an apology, first give it to yourself. That's right, apologize to yourself for not being your biggest advocate. For not actually standing up and expressing your actions, feelings, or emotions. Give yourself permission to feel how you feel. Apologize to yourself and FORGIVE YOURSELF.

In summary:

A. Stop saying you're sorry all the time. B. Own it. Who you are. Your voice, emotions, feelings, and life. Stop apologizing for yourself. C. Forgive yourself.

Forgive yourself for what you feel responsible for in everyone else's lives and your life…and own your responsibility.

Let it, and yourself go. Then you'll be able to forgive others.

You apologize or point fingers, when really the most important step is that you receive your own forgiveness. Then you can forgive others, and stop waiting for everyone else to apologize to you.

Apologize and ask for forgiveness when necessary, but it starts with you.

Stop saying you're sorry. Live the truth. Stand in it. Show up in it. Live in it. Speak it.

Own your voice, and stop apologizing for it.

This IS an UNAPOLOGETIC LIFE.

Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP: 1. Write down, "I am NOT sorry!" 2. Make a commitment today to stop saying "I'm sorry" all the time.

Thanks for being here. Please stop by WomenSippingOnLife.com, and let me know how you're doing. I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

Being unconditionally loved is the greatest gift! You may have it, yet NOT be accessing it. Today I'll show you how to access this gift, live it, and share it with others.

WELL…COME Back!

In the past several podcast episodes, we've talked about LIVE UNFILTERED, LIVE UNCOVERED (Exposed + Naked), LIVE AFRAID, LIVE UNASHAMED, and LIVE UNCONDITIONAL.

Many years ago I had a "story" going on in my life that said, "lifelong love isn't possible for me." It was an unconscious belief that I wasn't aware of until a few years ago. When it came to the surface, and was EXPOSED - because of all the heart work I had been doing (the same stuff I'm teaching you and my clients) - I made the conscious decision to choose a new belief. You can too...

Within a few weeks I met an incredible gentleman/soul, that I'm still loving (and being loved by) today. It's the kind of love I've never experienced before now.

For years I had the desire for unconditional love, but I didn't have it. (Or so I thought.) I had become such a victim to my own story. Looking back it's so obvious, but at that time it wasn't.

I remember hearing in my heart one day, "Shannon, are you a priority in your own life? Do you love YOURSELF unconditionally?"

The answer to both these questions was, "NO."

I knew that "I" wasn't a priority in my own life. I also knew that I hadn't been UNCONDITIONALLY loving myself.

When I got the revelation that I could give MYSELF what I felt I was missing, I began to make myself a priority...and love myself with no conditions.

I had been expecting everyone else to do this for me, but it never even occurred to me that I hadn't been doing it for myself.

In that moment, I made a commitment to myself.

Face it, if YOU are NOT a priority in your life, then WHO is living your life?

You must be the main character in your own life, or who's playing that role? (A role that only YOU can play.) If you're not the leading role in your life, then someone else is living YOUR life for you. If so, then you can't complain when things aren't the way you desire them to be.

I felt like I had heard the voice of God in my heart that day. God showed me that He loved me unconditionally. Wow!! I thought, "Here I have the unconditional love from the Creator of the Universe, and the unconditional love from MYSELF…" I was no longer desperate for or seeking the unconditional love from another.

In that moment, I chose to:

1. RECEIVE the unconditional love that I already had available to me. 2. Give myself the unconditional love that I so desired.

ALL OF A SUDDEN…I was no longer in a state of need, want, or lack. I entered into the fullness of the LOVE that was always there for me…and I began to receive it by loving myself.

Oh my goodness, EVERYTHING changed!

After about a year of fully engaging in the process of doing all the work involved in loving myself unconditionally, and making (and keeping) myself a priority in my life, the unconscious belief of "lifelong love wasn't possible for me" came to the surface and was exposed.

I made a choice that day. I made a commitment. And so can YOU!

Within a couple weeks, I met the incredible LOVE of my life.

I don't believe this relationship would be possible, had I not made the choices and commitments I made prior to meeting him.

When you begin to truly and unconditionally love yourself, everything will become so much more BEAUTIFUL, LOVABLE, AND LOVING IN YOUR LIFE.

I invite into this experience.

This is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Receive it. Give it to yourself. Give it to others.

Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP:

1. What do you LOVE most about YOU? 2. Write yourself an UNCONDITIONALLY LOVING Love Letter. 3. Read it.

When you unconditionally love yourself, you begin to love your life and life's work well…and it LOVES YOU BACK.

Please come over to WomenSippingOnLife.com. I'd love to give you some FREE RESOURCES, including the Ultimate Engagement Plan: Date Yourself Well: The 12 Best-selling Engagements Of Becoming The Great Lover Of Your Life.

There's nothing better than UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, Baby!!

I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

No, this isn't a grammatical mistake. Yes, living UNCONDITIONALLY is great, but first you must commit to live the UNCONDITIONAL. If you're living the circumstance, condition, reasons, OR wondering why you're not living an incredible life because you're so caught up in THE CONDITIONS, then TODAY'S THE DAY for something new and UNCONDITIONAL.

Live "Unconditional" works. It's working in my life, so that's why I'm sharing this with you.

When we stop living the condition we can live unconditional. THEN we can live unconditionally. Does this make sense?

If you're living THE CONDITION, then chances are you're not living your dreams.

Are you: 1. Living the circumstance? 2. Living the condition? 3. Living the reasons? 4. Wondering why you're not living an incredible life because you're so caught up in THE CONDITIONS?

I encourage you to live OUTSIDE the conditions that you're experiencing, or have created for yourself.

We create the majority of the circumstances in our lives. Yes, bad things can happen to great people…and we can't always control the circumstances. However, we can choose what we do with(and IN) the circumstances.

Life happens to give us an opportunity to grow, see, and learn new things. Life isn't happening TO us.

Life is happening for us…and through us.

What part of your conditions are YOU willing to take ownership of?

Which ones are you responsible for?

What condition(s) have you put on your life?

Are they working?

If they're NOT, then today's the day to see it a different way, and change your mind (beliefs)…and what your heart KNOWS about it.

This IS possible for YOU, if you accept it.

Stop living the conditions, and START to live UNCONDITIONAL.

There is a difference...

This one distinction could be the biggest breakthrough you've ever had in your life.

The conditions, standards, reasonings, patterns, and stories that we're attached to create our CONDITIONS.

I had gotten to a place in my life where all my conditions, etc. had conditioned me into a very tight corner. It was no surprise that I was feeling trapped and stuck.

When I opened myself up to letting go of my "CONDITIONS," I began to live an unconditional life. I began to see (and live) new possibilities.

Living unconditionally allowed me to begin to love unconditionally.

This is when my life began to turn in a completely different direction - which was the way I desired to go.

Prior to that I had conditioned myself into a life that wasn't working and a life I didn't desire.

Conditioning yourself into a great, conditioned life - like a fit, healthy, well-trained, conditioned athlete is not the conditioning I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the CONDITIONS that are NOT healthy…and simply NOT WORKING. You know...the ones that've left you feeling broke, broken, unfit, unhealthy.

If this is you today, it's time to let go of all these conditions.

SIMPLY COMMIT TO LIVE UNCONDITIONAL. To live the "UNCONDITION." The opposite of the condition. Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP: 1. What's the #1 condition you've put on your life that you're willing to let go of today to begin to live "UNCONDITONAL"…so you can live unconditionally and love unconditionally?

2. Take a step today, and let go of that condition.

I'd love to hear from you about what came up for you today. In the coming weeks, I'd also love to hear what happened because of your decision today. Go to WomenSippingOnLife.com and leave a comment.

I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

xo Dr. Shannon.

Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

In today's episode, I reveal what's causing you to hide, cover-up, or feel like you need to filter everything. I also expose the truth about SHAME. Brushing off your feelings with an attitude of "oh well," could have a serious affect on your wellness.

SHOW NOTES...

Sipping on life originally started with my commitment to dating myself well. Dating myself well means sipping on life. Unashamed.

What would it look like for you to LIVE UNASHAMED?

Over the past two years of connecting with my S.O.L. DATE SISTERS, I've been sharing the power of living life UNCOVERED (NAKED), UNAFRAID, UNASHAMED, UNAPOLOGETIC, UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED.

Today we're talking about living UNASHAMED.

There's a certain amount of shame that most people carry. Somehow we feel like we're not enough, and need to hide or cover-up. Like I shared in EPISODE 027: Live Uncovered.

If we didn't feel ashamed of anything, we wouldn't feel the need to cover-up, or filter everything.

I also spoke about this in EPISODE 026: Live Unfiltered.

Shame weighs a person down, and causes needless, unnecessary suffering.

If we avoid our feelings, by not taking time to feel them or labeling them a certain way that minimizes our feelings, we miss healing the feeling.

Often we'll brush off our feelings with an attitude of "oh well."

But is your "oh well" affecting your wellness?

When you avoid feeling, it affects your healing.

Reasons, explanations, or understandings are NOT a substitute for feeling what you feel.

If you feel "hurt", feel the hurt. Otherwise you'll carry it with you. And the way you label it will affect how you carry it.

When we take on the identity of what's happened, and label ourselves accordingly, we end up living ashamed.

Shame is a very heavy story that we create and live with. It's a dramatic pseudo reality, that's simply NOT THE TRUTH.

Have you become addicted to a dramatic tale that's led to you living ashamed?

If you hide what you're "ashamed" of, or avoid expressing it, then it lingers under the surface like a festering wound or cancer. It's a dis-ease that leaves us with no EASE.

Then we spend our time trying to justify it, or attempting to blame it or shame it away.

The truth is, it's simply a feeling that was never actually FELT or DEALT with.

What would happen if you took the shameful label off your feelings, and simply acknowledged them as they are?

What would happen? Healing.

I'm not a psychologist, physiatrist, or counselor. I'm a Healing Life Coach. What does this mean?

Healing = I am healing. I've been through the process of healing, and am still in the process. I have healed. A "healer" is one who has healed. In order to be a healer, one must heal. In order to be healing, you must be HEALING. That is what I am. I am healing. I'm no different than you are, except that I may be further ahead in the healing process.

Wherever you are today, know that healing IS available to you.

Life = The 4-letter word that can feel more like a nightmare than a dream. But doesn't have to.

If you're healing your life, you're living your life in TRUTH. UNFILTERED. UNCOVERED. UNASHAMED. With nothing to hide.

Coach = Not a counselor, psychologist, physiatrist, or mental health professional. I'm sharing with you from the deepest part of my heart and soul; from my own experiences and the ones I've been privileged to be a part of because of my own healing...and Healing Life Coaching.

As a coach I'm a professional question asker. I ask the questions that will inspire YOU to discover your answer. When you discover your answer and truth, you can live in TRUTH.

Living in truth allows you to live in freedom.

Knowledge of the truth sets us free.

Wherever you are today, take a look at whatever you feel SHAME about, and remember that you are ONE FEELING from your healing.

You are one feeling away from your healing.

Feel it. Then release it by allowing yourself to SEE (and feel) the deeper pain that you've labeled as ugly, unworthy, shameful.

It's time to release yourself, my dear.

Release the shame. Be willing to call it be a different name. What are you willing to call it today? What you've been calling it is NOT the TRUTH.

When you begin to live UNCOVERED, you can live in truth, and allow the light of truth to shine on it. Expose it. Allow it to heal.

Feel it. Heal it. Let go of any other name, but the name of TRUTH.

Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself).

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP:

1. Write down what you're feeling ashamed of. 2. Give it a new name of TRUTH. It's a feeling ready for healing.

Thank you for being here. I'd love to hear from you. WomenSippingOnLife.com.

Please leave a comment. Come over to iTunes or Stitcher and leave a rating/review. Subscribe.

Most importantly, act on what you're learning, and the inspiration you're feeling in your heart and soul…and share it with someone else.

Care enough to share. You don't have to do this alone. We can sip on life together.

Yes, you have to live your life for yourself…but you don't have to live it all by yourself.

We're so much stronger together than we are alone.

I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

Imagine what your life would look and feel like if you were living unafraid...Living unafraid is actually easier than you think. Today I'll show you specific steps you can take to help you LIVE UNAFRAID.

What comes up in your mind and heart when you think about, and imagine, what it would be like for you were to live unafraid?

SHOW NOTES...

Living unafraid is actually easier than you think.

The first step you MUST take is to acknowledge and accept that you've been living AFRAID. Maybe not in all areas of your life, but perhaps in some areas you've been living afraid.

Next, you must be willing to ask yourself, "WHAT are you afraid of?"

Please don't give me a catch-all, cliche phrase…like, "I'm afraid of success."

I believe it's something DEEPER.

What's the deepest, most truthful answer?

Why are YOU afraid? What's the really deep-seated fear that you feel?

For example, what do you think you'll lose? Friends? Freedom? Or you'll gain too much responsibility?

What is it? Please allow yourself to acknowledge your what and WHY.

There's a difference between HAVING fear, and feeling like you have fear.

You might have fear when you're standing on top of a tall building and someone says, "JUMP." That's fear.

When you feel fearful or scared that something may or may not happen, it's only a feeling.

Yes, the feeling is just as legitimate or palpable as the actual, natural fear of someone chasing you with a gun or knife. BUT...

Often we're afraid only from the stories that we're creating. And it's not even REAL. It's imagined.

Is it possible that the reason why you haven't been living UNAFRAID is because you haven't yet acknowledged where your FEAR is?

ACKNOWLEDGE where you're feeling afraid.

I almost titled this episode: The Answer's In The Question. Because it's our questions that lead us to answers.

Your "WHAT IF?" questions are creating fear, and the stories that support it.

So, why not simply ask different questions?

1. Where are you afraid? 2. WHAT are you really afraid of? 3. WHAT IF something magnificent could happen because you're willing to question your fears?

FEAR only has power IF you BELIEVE it.

Fear doesn't have power over you, or your life, unless you believe it's TRUE.

The next time you feel afraid, ask yourself if THE FEAR is worth your time, attention, energy, and/or emotions? And IS IT EVEN REAL?

Stop reacting to something that's not real or true.

Are you willing to ask yourself a different question, and see your life as it really is?

The opposite of living in fear is living in TRUTH.

Living in truth is POWERFUL.

Are you willing to start asking questions that'll actually get you the answers that you DESIRE?

This is my BIG question for you today…

1. What do you desire?

If you take all the fear, worry, "what ifs", and lies out of it…what do you really desire?

Expose the truth…and admit your desire OUT LOUD.

Then take the next step.

2. Ask for what you desire.

Then…

3. Act on it.

If you're going to LIVE UNAFRAID, then you must:

1. Acknowledge TRUTH. 2. Ask for TRUTH. 3. Act in/on TRUTH.

What would that look like to you?

Most people are afraid that they won't get what they want.

But WHAT IF you could focus your attention on what you desire and actually create it?

It IS possible.

It starts by acknowledging what you're afraid of, asking a different question, acknowledging what you truly desire, then asking a question that's specific to what you desire.

If you keep asking questions that lead to more and more fear, you're not asking for what you really desire. Unless, of course, you desire fear.

ACT on what you desire...fearlessly, or in the presence of acknowledged fear.

SIMPLY SAID...THIS IS LIVING UNAFRAID.

Acknowledge Fear. Acknowledge Truth. Acknowledge Your Desire. Ask Specifically With Certainty + Clarity. Act On It To Create It.

Remember, the answers are in the questions you ask.

Live and become the answer to the questions you're asking. That is the S.O.L.UTION.

Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP:

1. Write down where you're living AFRAID. 2. Acknowledge it. 3. Then ask yourself where you'd like to live UNAFRAID. 4. Then…what are you going to DO NOW?

I can't wait to hear from you. I look forward to hearing from you at WomenSippingOnLife.com.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

What IF what you think is giving you protection is actually imprisoning you? You're about to learn 3 things that'll help you redefine what living UNCOVERED, Exposed + Naked really looks like. NOPE, today's show isn't X-Rated. It's "G" for Genuine. (And you can leave a rating/review in iTunes or Stitcher.) :)

SHOW NOTES...

Living uncovered means that you're committed to living a genuine, authentic life.

This is definitely a continuation of yesterday's EPISODE 026: Live Unfiltered.

I hope you've listened to it, and taken your SACRED S.O.L. STEP to begin the process of living unfiltered. Today we're going deeper in order to live uncovered.

What would your life look like UNCOVERED?

Today I'm going to help you see what your life would look like uncovered, exposed, and naked.

Uncovered means fully free; exposed to the light. It's bright, light, free, and not heavy.

These 3 things will help you redefine what living UNCOVERED, EXPOSED + NAKED really looks like.

1. Uncovered = Revealed or Revelation.

It's the beginning of a discovery process. When you uncover, you peel back whatever it is that's covering your truth.

This can feel scary at times, because we don't know exactly WHAT will be revealed.

What LIFE are you missing, or not seeing, because you've allowed fear to keep you from uncovering it?

Under the cover is OPPORTUNITY for growth.

But if you allow IT to be covered too long, that darkness will absolutely hinder your growth.

There's a time to be uncovered and revealed. It's now, so you can allow what's truly underneath to come to the surface.

TRUTH is revealed when we UNCOVER.

Where there's TRUTH, there's opportunity.

Are you willing to uncover, and discover truth, so you can enter into the opportunity that's available to you?

When you cover yourself and hide, you'll feel suffocated and UNINSPIRED - like you can't breathe. It'll also make you feel OVERWHELMED.

When I think of COVERED, I think of drowning. It creates a feeling of overwhelm, heaviness, darkness, and fear.

2. EXPOSED = Released.

Often when we think of something being EXPOSED, we think of a secret being released. People get nervous, and a lot of times there's shame around it. People don't want the truth to be exposed, because their "secret" will be known.

Perhaps that's YOU today? You've got some secrets, baggage, or painful truth that you've been carrying around with you.

Is it possible that you've allowed "IT" to define you, and you've labeled yourself because of it?

All these labels will cover up, and create a heavy weight for you to carry. Imagine what it would feel like to let go, reveal, and release yourself today?

The extra weight is holding you down. It's covering you up, and keeping you captive.

Often we feel that by covering up we're protecting ourselves, but actually we're creating a prison that hinders our growth, expression, and is shutting us down.

If this is you, are you willing to allow yourself to expose the TRUTH, and be released?

You can live freely when you allow yourself to be released from whatever it is that's covering you.

3. Naked = Restore.

When we wear something on top of who we really are it's time to get NAKED.

Naked is so misunderstood. We come to planet earth in the skin we're in. Naked and unashamed.

For some reason when I think of naked, I think of a hospital. Yes, probably because a lot of babies are born in a hospital.

One of the things that happen when you go to a hospital is they ask you to take off your clothes.

Why is that? Because it hinders access, whether you're having a baby or you've had surgery or trauma.

People go to a hospital to get care, and to begin the recovery process.

I remember years ago getting the revelation that I didn't desire RECOVERY for myself, my patients, or anyone.

Why? Because to RECOVER is the opposite of UNCOVER.

We UNCOVER truth, the cause of a problem, a revelation, and an opportunity. Once the secret's out, the truth's revealed...and can do its work. The power's released.

The last thing we want to do then is RECOVER!

What if we started looking at NAKEDNESS as an opportunity to RESTORE?

To completely restore, and begin the REBUILDING process.

Imagine what this would look like...

RESTORING and rebuilding allows you to become healthier, happier, stronger, and more powerful than before you lost whatever it was that you feel you've lost or the hurt you've experienced.

This is so exciting to me!

Maybe you haven't experienced a trauma or loss, but life's gotten average or feels like it's lacking ADVENTURE. I invite you to continue to seek the adventure of a lifetime, and fully enter into that adventure called SIPPING ON LIFE.

When you enter into the adventure of LIFE, your good can become great.

Sometimes in order to access great, you've got to let go of good.

You have to be willing to uncover, release, expose, and actually RESTORE AND REBUILD.

There's no such thing as RECOVER. It's all about RESTORE AND REBUILD.

Please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

TODAY'S SACED S.O.L. STEP:

1. Take an honest look at your life. Ask yourself WHERE you're covering up, and where would you desire to be UNCOVERED?

WRITE IT ALL OUT. Let it out. Whatever secret, lie, desire, or whatever it is, allow it to come to the surface.

2. Make a commitment, and take at least one step to begin to UNCOVER.

Perhaps that one step is simply writing it all out in your journal. That's the beautiful thing about journaling. You can write it all out, and discover some truth about yourself. Sometimes you don't even know what's going on under the surface. Then suddenly you can see it so clearly.

Expose it with the light of truth. Take a step today that'll allow you to live uncovered, exposed, and naked.

Thanks for being here today. I'd love to hear from you. Come over to WomenSippingOnLife.com and let me know how you're doing. If you haven't yet subscribed to the podcast, you can do so at iTunes or Stitcher.

Please stop by my Dr. Shannon Facebook Page, and enjoy the daily LIVE trainings…for you to LIKE, LOVE + SHARE.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

What does it mean to live an unfiltered life? Today I'll uncover the reason why you're afraid that you're going to be judged for doing so. I'll also show you that living unfiltered really means living authentically. Are you ready for permission to take the filters OFF YOUR LIFE?

Today's SACRED S.O.L. STORY comes from earlier in the week with my LIVE S.O.L. DATE SISTERHOOD. Each week I, along with a group of women from around the world (with our most recent S.O.L. DATE SISTER joining us from Australia,) come together to Sip On Life and Date Ourselves Well LIVE via Zoom Video Conferencing.

We openly share our hearts. We show up, speak up, step up, and stand up for what we believe, and step into the life we desire.

Sipping On Life has been a several year journey for me, and it continues. Thank God. As long as I'm alive, I'm going to sip on life. And I'd love to do it with you as well. I'm so grateful that you're here.

Each week we have a S.O.L. DATE. We get together and talk. Although it's not simply talking. We share what's going on. We open up our hearts. And we sort of dissect it. We appreciate it, and ask questions.

That's the BIG thing...the ASKING of questions.

So let's go back a bit, because the past few days we've been talking about the heart. But really it's been a HEART issue since the very beginning.

Specifically EPISODE 024: The 3 Keys To Access Your Heart and yesterday's EPISODE 025: Living With Your Heart Wide Open. We've been talking about the heart.

The big thing that's often missing, in a so-called SECRET STRATEGY into the heart, is ASKING QUESTIONS.

The other day I was asked how I'm able to access someone's heart from the outside so quickly.

I responded, "If I can get someone to open her/his mouth, I'm in their heart." Why? Because I know what their heart's saying as they start speaking.

The greatest way to do that is by asking a question. That right there - if you get nothing else from today's broadcast - is GI-NORMOUS. (Yep, that's a made-up word.)

What questions are YOU asking in your life? What questions are you asking of yourself? Others? What questions are you asking your heart?

I asked one of my S.O.L. DATE SISTERS, "What would your life look like if you were living it UNFILTERED?"

As she was speaking, I picked up on the fact that she's been holding back a lot. I find this across the board with the women I coach, as well as the men. However, it seems more prevalent in women. I see them NOT speaking up.

That's why I've created an environment in my SISTERHOOD for women to speak up. To literally open her mouth and heart, and let it come out. Spew it out…seriously, I call it, "Naked. Unafraid. Unashamed. Unapologetically letting it all out."

My S.O.L. DATE SISTER was putting a filter on herself for many reasons. (You know who I'm talking about, dear soul. I know you're listening.) But it's not only her. It's women across the board.

What would your life look like if you were living unfiltered?

Her immediate response was, "That would be irresponsible, right?"

Although the look on her face was like…Ahhh…that would be awesome.

Perhaps like some of you may have felt yesterday when I spoke about living life with your heart wide open. Ah...

Living UNFILTERED is living WIDE OPEN. Without the lens being filtered.

We live in a world today that's filtered. Social media. Everywhere. Everything has a filter. We think we have to say "it" a certain way, we have to get the perfect camera angle, or perfect lighting. We have to express ourselves in such a way as to create a certain response from those on the other end. Somehow we want "them" to think this...or we don't want them to think "that."

It gets very complicated. I like to call it, "COMPLEXICATED." Complex and complicated. (Yep, another made-up word.)

Simply put it's not a whole lot of fun!

Even though my S.O.L. DATE SISTER looked relieved, she responded, "But that would be irresponsible."

When I ask YOU the question: What would your life look like UNFILTERED? What comes to mind for you?

In her case, she felt it would be irresponsible.

So I asked her if the most AUTHENTIC version of her would be "irresponsible?"

She responded quickly with a, "No."

I agreed, because I know her, and she's VERY responsible.

However YOU answer this question, take a look at your answer. And ask yourself, "When I'm being my MOST AUTHENTIC, am I being "THAT?"

Then I asked, "Why, if you were living your life UNFILTERED, would it be an irresponsible life?

She was a little surprised, because she admitted that she'd never thought of it this way before.

What we uncovered was this (I think this will really help you if you let it set in): Is it possible that there are parts of you that you've denied and set aside, or labeled as irresponsible, unloveable, or (fill in the blank?)

And now it sits in the dark, and you're hiding it. Maybe you even feel a little ashamed of it. Like you don't dare expose "that" because of how you've labeled it.

She had been doing this with a side of herself. Leaving her with the unconscious belief that she had to FILTER it.

Is it possible that living unfiltered really means living authentically?

I'll give you another example. When you hear this phrase: Oh my goodness, they were so "wild."

Instantly people think about the idea of "wild" being irresponsible, unethical, crazy sexually, or all these different judgements. But what if "wild" meant YOU being in your NATURAL STATE?

No different than a tiger that acts like a tiger in its natural, wild state because it's a tiger.

A lion is a lion because its a lion.

What if your being wild and free was you simply being real? What if it was being authentic to who you are, and you didn't have to be afraid of it?

Why? Because YOU in your authentic or UNFILTERED state is actually very responsible, ethical, lovable, etc...(fill in the blank?)

We create all these stories that tell us that we have to edit, hide, filter, or do all these other things. When the truth is we don't. What if you could live in an UNFILTERED state, and that unfiltered state was someone who was absolutely authentic, genuine, real, and valuable?

My dear, YOU in your INAUTHENTIC state, are not showing your value. Do you get that?

Is it possible that you've been living, and believing, a story that says YOU in your AUTHENTIC state is NOT valuable? Or that you as your genuine self would be irresponsible? Or wild and crazy…and NOT in a good way?

I'd encourage you to think about this today. I'm extremely passionate about what I'm sharing with you here.

In our S.O.L. DATE we began to uncover some of these truths. That was a few days ago. Since then she's seeing that things are changing for her, and she's even healing physically.

What if YOU living in your UNFILTERED state is what's required for YOU to live freely? Healthfully?

What would that look like for you?

We'll continue this conversation in tomorrow's broadcast…

For now, please grab your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself).

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP: Answer this question: What would your life look like if you were living UNFILTERED?

How would it look? How would if feel?

Write it down.

I believe this has the power to set you free.

It's why so many women from all over the world are NOT speaking up. Because if you open up your mouth, you're going to show yourself, right?

What if you feel that what you're showing is "this", "that", or "the other?" And you think you're going to be judged because of it?

The reason why you're afraid you're going to be judged is because YOU'VE been judging yourself. Is that possible?

I see it all the time.

I'd love to hear from you. What came up for you? What's going on in your mind and heart as you begin to commit to living an UNFILTERED life. A life with flow and ease. Sipping On Life.

Yes, I'd love to hear from you. Please come on over to WomenSippingOnLife.com. Seriously.

I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

Thank you. I appreciate you.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)

How do you think that would feel? Imagine. Imagine for a moment what it would feel like to live with your heart wide open? Today I'm going to open your heart to some new possibilities.

SHOW NOTES...

This may seem terrifying for you. Or it may seem incredibly freeing and awesome to think about.

Growing up on a farm in a very small town in rural Minnesota, we never locked our doors. We left the keys in our vehicles. We didn't lock our homes. We trusted our neighbors, and those in our community.

Obviously times have changed, and even if we trust, it's wise to lock our doors, right?

Recently I did a Facebook Live and asked my community what they thought the #1 key was for opening their heart. It started an awesome discussion. I heard things like love, gratitude, forgiveness, a big hug…etc.

Whatever it may be for YOU, imagine if you could live with your heart wide open.

One of my friends brought up the possibility of what it would look like if we no longer needed locks or doors. What would it take for us to no longer need to lock our doors (especially the door to our heart)? This has inspired such a great discussion, and a wonderful thought to ponder.

I would encourage you to begin thinking about this today.

What do you think? Terrifying or freeing?

What if you had such an incredible level of TRUST that you could live with your heart wide open?

What's required for you to give someone the keys to your home? It's trust, right?

You must trust that person. You know that they're not going to come in, and take or steal from you. You know that they'll knock on the door, and ask permission before entering.

It's beautiful. Imagine if that was your heart!

I've been thinking about this at such a deep level, and what's come up for me is asking what's required for trust.

We don't trust people unless we know them, right?

So KNOWING is a huge part of being able to live with your heart wide open.

What if you KNEW that no one could hurt you? And even if you got hurt, you still KNEW the value of living with your heart wide open. And you KNOW that it's better to have lived and loved fully than to not live or love at all.

Second to knowing someone, is knowing and trusting IN SOMETHING. What is that?

We believe that what he or she is telling and showing us is the truth, right?

So being able to KNOW THE TRUTH is key.

What if you knew the truth about YOU? And you knew and believed that your heart was YOUR responsibility and no one else's? Imagine if that was your truth?

You can share your heart with others, invite others in, and live with your heart wide open, but ultimately YOU'RE responsible for it. And you trust YOURSELF enough to know that it's safe and secure.

Imagine what that would look and feel like?

I remember getting to a place in my life where I left my heart, and took residence in my head. I decided that I'd live and love from there because it didn't hurt as much as my experience of living in my heart.

However, I soon realized that living in my head made me feel trapped. It didn't feel fulfilling. It wasn't real. It wasn't me being authentically me.

So I wondered how I could live with my metaphorical home's doors and windows wide open.

This was the vision I got in my heart, and have held until this day...

You can live with your heart wide open, but there's a beautiful yard around your home. Around that is a gate. YOU get to decide who comes into your yard. The gate opens both ways. That way you get to live with your heart wide open. You get to choose who comes and goes through the gate.

You're the gate keeper, and you're a trustworthy gate keeper.

Do you trust YOU with your heart?

This way of thinking got me to the place of being able to live with my heart wide open, and it has been ever since.

It's helped me become a trustworthy keeper of my heart.

There's nothing greater than living with your heart wide open, because it means that YOU'RE wide open. You're able to expand and grow. You're able to receive ALL OF YOU, and all the love coming back at you.

It's a revolving (evolving) opening within your heart that's wide open, and it's beautiful.

I made a decision that no matter what happened in my life, my heart could no longer be broken, because there is so much love in my heart that it holds my heart together.

Even losing both my parents in a tragic car accident, and my heart taking the biggest hit it's ever taken - leaving my heart feeling like there was a big crack in it - my heart was NOT broken. It was OPEN, and remains that way.

Love holds my heart together.

An open heart feels painful sometimes, but I decided that the pain that my open heart feels is going to be relative to the amount of love it feels and experiences. I'm reminded of this every day as I think about, and miss, my parents. I remember that it's because I LOVE them.

That LOVE is worth every bit of pain I've experienced in losing them.

I know this may be a sensitive topic and you may not agree with me. I encourage you to take a look at this topic from another perspective.

You can live with your heart wide open because you: 1. Trust. 2. Know. 3. Know Truth.

Imagine the endless, infinite possibilities.

Please take out your SACRED S.O.L. D.A.T.E. JOURNAL (Daily Action To Engage with yourself.)

TODAY'S SACRED S.O.L. STEP:

1. Write down what it would look like for you to live with your heart wide open. Write down exactly how you feel about it.

2. Ask yourself if you're open to seeing it another way.

I appreciate you being here, and being brave + courageous enough to even consider living with your heart wide open.

xo Dr. Shannon. Inspiring minds that want to grow and hearts that want to know, so you can love you, your life, and your life's work well. ONE SIP AT A TIME.

A special thanks to the following souls for helping me launch our WOMEN SIPPING ON LIFE podcast…

Intro/Outro done by Uni V. SOL

Outro music by Jay Man: Mind Over Matter (www.ourmusicbox.com)

Podcast cover design and web site done by: Pablo Aguilar (www.webdesigncreator.com)

Podcast cover photo by Kate Montague of KM Captured (www.kmcaptured.com)