The Highly Unlikely Podcast with Lavena Perry

With Valentine’s Day around the corner and it is the week of love!  Unfortunately, there seems to be a national shortage of love these days.  If you have spent any time on social media or watching the news, it may seem that love has become scarce.  So how do we show love in a world of hate?

Today’s episode dives right into this important issue and how we can turn it around with practical tools and strategies to create a foundation of love and kindness in your own life.

• Bombarded by negativity 0:52
• The importance of a strong foundation 2:29
• How you start your day 3:42
• Seeking positivity 5:10
• Your tribe 6:42
• Finding out what’s really important to you 6:54
• The power of tangibility 7:41
• Time away 8:57
• Actions speak louder than words 10:14
• Returning to kindness 11:09
• It takes two 12:24
• Listening to voices you disagree with 13:15
• Giving the gift of acceptance 14:54
• What you do changes the world 15:25

Power Quotes:

If you want a life filled with love and kindness, you need to build the foundation for love and kindness  3:07

Take a look at the five people who are closest to you, that’s who you are 6:42

If the world gets too heavy, put it down for a while and take a break 9:02

Spread love and kindness through the things you do and say 10:18

Everyone wants to be loved and accepted for who they are 14:54

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

When someone you love does something wrong, forgiveness is often instantaneous, but that’s not always true for yourself.  In fact, many of us carry around guilt from poor choices we made decades ago.

Today’s episode dives into the reasons behind the struggle to forgive yourself, and the importance of extending grace to yourself.  Whether it is all the small things or something that caused serious harm to someone you love, forgiveness is an important part of growing and moving forward.

• Our ability to forgive ourselves 2:03
• Killer paint 3:06
• The guilt we carry with us 7:13
• Definition of an accident 9:11
• Giving the gift of forgiveness to others 10:24
• Guilt is limiting 11:56
• The foundation of forgiveness 12:28
• The importance of forgiving yourself 13:54
• Comparison 15:21
• Time for boundaries 17:19
• Reconditioning your mind 18:01
• Fixing what’s broken inside 19:36
• Free yourself 20:00

Power Quotes

Forgiving yourself isn’t easy, but that doesn’t make it less important  11:58

Love creates the fertile ground needed for forgiveness 13:20

No one is as critical of you, as you ar 19:31

Make a choice to give yourself the gift of forgiveness 19:56

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

We have all faced challenges and hard times in our lives.  We have made mistakes, gone down roads we wished we hadn’t, and have had to face the consequences of our choices.  That is part of the human experience.  But all of that experience and those challenges have brought you to where you find yourself today.  

Today’s episode is all about choosing how to use your flaws, mistakes, and challenging experiences to propel you forward in your quest to live your best life.

• Learning from trauma 3:27
• Evolving 4:41
• You’re no different than the Kardashians 5:40
• Feelings of inadequacy 6:19
• If you want a cut of meat, call the butcher 7:21
• Your flaws make you perfect 8:43
• You’re exactly where you need to be 9:23
• Using your experience 10:39
• Not choosing is choosing 11:42
• Finding your purpose 12:43

Power Quotes

No matter what you have been through in the past, you have the ability to become the very best version of yourself 5:45

Your flaws, mistakes, and challenges have led you to exactly where you need to be to do the work you need to do 9:27

Use your challenges and experience to affect real change in the world 10:25

By not choosing, you are choosing 11:42

You have been placed where you are today for a purpose 12:43

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

The last year taught us a lot.  Many of our routines, things we took for granted, and activities we enjoyed we disrupted and replaced by uncertainty, anxiety, and fear.  Fear serves a purpose.  To protect us and help us exercise caution when needed.  But fear, when left unchecked, can keep you trapped and unable to move forward.

Today’s episode is all about facing the fear that limits you.  Being willing to move outside of the comfort of the life you know to take the risks necessary to have the life you dream of is a challenge, but you can choose to move beyond the fear.

• Normal emotions 1:44
• Unhealthy fear 3:07
• Living in fear will not save you 5:53
• Living your life 6:40
• Using fear appropriately 7:40
• The other side of fear 8:26
• Dreams that scare you 9:25
• The box created by fear 10:26
• What are you afraid of? 10:53
• Failure 11:21
• Growing to overcome obstacles 12:07
• Choosing to face your fears and move forward 13:35

Power Quotes

Existing does not equal living 7:16

Moving forward in spite of your fear is the only way to get to what’s beyond the fear 8:47

Pursuing your dreams should take you into the unknown, where risk lives 9:25

Fear is a dream killer 10:41 

If you keep trying again every time you fail, you will eventually succeed 11:25

Choose a path that leads to the life you want 14:17

The life you dream of is on the other side of fear 14:55

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

The power of words is easy to understand when you are reading a book that is written so powerfully that it brings you to tears, or when you hear the lyrics to a song that have a message so incredible it gives you chills.  Words have the power to evoke emotion, inspire, motivate, and even hold the power to cause injury when used as a weapon.

Today’s episode is all about the power of one word.  Choosing one word to be your power word for the year can teach you important lessons, unleash your inner strength as you are facing challenges, and help to keep you focused on your goals throughout the year.

• A harrowing adventure 3:54
• Rapid reflections 8:51
• Emotional responses 10:57
• Courage in the face of danger 12:25
• Courage overrides fear 13:41
• Your courage vs. other people’s behavior 13:53
• Courage in action 14:22
• Empowerment and presence of mind 14:44
• New Year, new word 16:09
• What it means to prevail 17:25
• Unleash your inner strength 18:21
• Choosing your word for the year 19:47

Power Quotes:

Your courage does not change other people, it changes you 10:40

Courage requires you to have a plan of action 13:09

Courage allows you to act rather than react 13:41

Courage is action that overrides fear 13:48

Fear is limiting, courage is empowering 14:41

Unleash your inner power and prevail 18:43

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

The New Year is here!  Goodbye 2020...at last!!  No one knows what this new year will bring, but before we can set out on this journey, we need to decide where we are heading and how we plan to get there.

The start of a new year is an excellent time to take stock of the progress you have made and set goals that will help you continue to progress towards your big goals.  Are there things you want to change?  Is there growth you want to experience?  Achievements you want to make?  Today’s episode is all about setting the goals you need to get you where you want to go.

• A life-changing practice 3:44
• Doing things the SMART way 4:21
• Dreaming big 6:45
• Keeping it real 8:21
• Making yourself accountable 9:58
• The road trip of a lifetime 11:32
• Pit stops are SMART 12:22
• Breaking it down 14:05
• Smaller goals, faster results 16:31
• Make it visual 18:07
• The secret to success 18:57
• What if it’s not working? 19:43
• Giving yourself grace 20:12

Power Quotes:

Allow yourself to dream big 6:44

You cannot change other people, you can only change yourself 8:18

The journey to achieving your big goal is like the road trip of a lifetime 11:32

SMART goals allow you to focus on one leg of the journey at a time 17:56

You are the master of your goals 20:19

Give yourself grace 21:53

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

With the coming of the new year, many of us are taking stock and setting goals for the coming year.  For many of us, one of those things may be the relationships we have with the people in our lives.  Even though they are the lifeblood of our existence and are the very thing that gives meaning to our lives, relationships are sometimes difficult and often take considerable effort to develop and maintain. 

 In today’s episode, we will dive into the complexity of relationships and discuss the tools we need to build and develop positive relationships, and ways you can improve the relationships with the people who matter most, starting today!

• Recognizing relationships that need help 1:57
• Custom carpentry and relationship building 5:44
• Do you speak their love language? 6:46
• Listen to their words 9:15
• The key to relationships 13:02
• Showing up in meaningful ways changes relationships 16:48
• How to show up 20:21
• Having important conversations about relationships 21:40
• Where to start 23:31
• Find your tribe 23:47

Power Quotes:

Relationships, like custom carpentry, use the one set of tools applied in unique ways 6:05

Once you know someone’s love language, you can show them love in ways that are meaningful to them 9:04

Stop what you are doing and listen 10:43

Show up 13:05

Doing what you think someone needs is different than fulfilling their needs 16:11

If someone is important to you, then figuring out how to show up in meaningful ways needs to be important to you as well 17:01

Find a tribe that encourages you on the path you want to be on and doesn’t keep you trapped on the path you are trying to change 25:29

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

In the midst of the holiday season, it can be easy to get caught up in the preparations, extra stressors like finances, and even our personal struggles that hit this time of year.  This can make it hard to find joy in what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

In today’s episode, we will talk about ways to find peace during this holiday season and create a lasting foundation for happiness in your life.

• A key element to happiness 2:59
• Changing my approach to life 4:50
• The practice of gratitude 5:56
• The challenges of 2020 6:37
• Being happy during challenging times 8:13
• The foundation of happiness 9:26
• What is happiness? 9:35
• Creating a positive state of being 10:45
• A peaceful refuge in the storm 12:08
• Emotionally connecting to the good things in your life 13:23
• Peaceful and happy holidays 14:52

Power Quotes:

Gratitude is the foundation of happiness 9:26

Happiness isn’t a feeling, it’s a state of being. 10:39

Happiness is being able to focus on the good things in your life, even during challenges. 11:40

Gratitude creates a refuge from the storms of life 12:18

Focusing on the things you are grateful for creates a state of happiness. 12:32

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

As a woman, you might put the happiness of others above your own. You may always put your children or your spouse first. You may even avoid sharing your real thoughts or feelings and retreat inward to avoid upsetting others. This can leave you feeling drained, stressed, tired, and anxious. You may even feel like you can’t do it one more day.

The good news is you’re not alone and there’s a solution! Today we will discuss the need for personal boundaries, the benefits of setting them, and the 7 steps you can start taking today to set clear and manageable boundaries for yourself that you can actually keep!

• How to recognize whose expectations you are trying to meet (1:28)
• Why putting others ahead of yourself is costing you your goals (3:00)
• Are you creating healthy boundaries in your life? (4:47)
• How to know if friends and family are filling the gap your spouse won’t fill (8:36)
• When you just can’t do it on your own anymore and how to avoid reaching that point (11:47)
• Why lacking this one thing can lead to anger in your life (14:23)
• How the past is holding you back and how to move forward from it (16:13)
• How your lack of boundaries is being passed to the next generation (18:30)
• What the world is telling you and how you should respond (20:44)
• The 7 steps you can take to successfully set and keep boundaries for yourself (22:09)

Power Quotes:

I know what it’s like to give up your dreams and accept that life gave you a different path than the one you imagined (3:55)

There are women who remain silent because they don’t want to be the source of someone else’s unhappiness (3:30)

Having healthy boundaries allows you to care for yourself so that you can better fulfill your roles (6:16)

Give yourself permission to pursue what you deserve (22:54)

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.

Do you ever look back at your life and wonder how things would be different if you had done things differently?  Sometimes looking back gives you a sense of pride that you worked so hard and things turned out well...and sometimes looking back doesn’t feel so great.

Today’s episode is all about living your life in a way that will allow you to look back on today without regret.

In today’s episode:

• What motivates you to work hard? (3:21)
• What is regret? (3:58)
• Avoiding regret (4:38)
• You can only control yourself (8:30)
• Intentional living (9:30)
• Having the tools you need (10:14)
• What you can do today (12:08)
• The importance of having a goal (13:14)
• Why your tribe matters (14:33)

Power Quotes:

Choose to live today in a way that allows you to move forward without regret.(8:38)

Even if you fail, you won’t regret trying. (9:14)

Define your goal, and then aim for it. (15:37)

Today is a great day to start (17:33)

You are the master of your own life (17:42)

Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.