The Purpose Playbook Podcast

Desirae is the founder of Minimal-ish, a lifestyle brand and podcast that is helping men and women live with less so they can make room for what matters most.

In the book, I talk about the benefits of decluttering your environment, your calendar, and your mind and Desirae is an expert on this topic. But she's also very honest about the challenges of the lifestyle she's chosen and even admits that cleaning her house is actually one of her least favorite activities. Instead, Desirae is committed to being intentional with her time and getting really clear on what is most important to her in life.

In this episode, she talks about her personal journey to minimalism and some of the resistance she faced along the way. She shares her favorite rituals and tons of Purpose Plays to help you take control of your time and use minimalism as a tool for living on purpose.

• Write a Surrender List. Start your day by journaling a list of things you are "surrendering" to the universe (or whatever higher power you believe in). You can surrender your anxiety about work, anger with a spouse, or the launch of an upcoming product. LET GO of whatever you are trying to control so you can focus on the other parts of life that are (probably) far more important.

• Create a decluttering date with yourself or your partner/roommate. Put a dedicated time on the calendar for "maintenance" cleaning so the mess never gets too overwhelming and you can trust that there will be time to address it.

• Create a Purpose Statement. Read this blog post for a step by step process.

https://www.desiraeendres.com/

Minimal-ish Podcast

@Desirae.Endres

JJ Barrows is an artist, writer, standup comedian and all-round wonderful human. She describes how she stumbled upon comedy (a profession that fascinates me!) and I know she will act as an expander for anyone who is thinking of pursuing something creative in order to live out their purpose.

We talk about the art of comedy and what to consider when turning your hobby into your career. We talk about how JJ gets out of a rut, trains her confidence muscle, and how validating her own worth and her feelings has helped her support others more genuinely. She shares lots of words of wisdom, including the power of becoming your own best friend (instead of your own worst enemy) and tips on how to navigate criticism.

#PurposePlays from the episode:

• Do one (small) thing every day to create momentum towards your goals or dreams. Don't overthink it; just take the next best step and trust that the small things add up.
• Become your own best friend vs. your own worst critic. Give yourself grace and make sure to first acknowledge and validate your fears before going into solution mode or getting down on yourself.

Links:

@jjbarrows

Personal Website

"Doodle All Day" Special by Drybar

Call a Spade a Spade by JJ Barrows

Sam is the epitome of a multi-passionate entrepreneur who shows up, big time. She's a professional dancer, certified life coach, speaker, and Regional Vice President with Arbonne.

Like many of us, she's struggled with worthiness which manifested itself in disordered eating and more recently, a divorce. But these experiences led her to find her voice and ultimately discover the value of mindset. Now she is sharing all her hard lessons learned through her coaching, her podcast (FULL OUT) and social media. She describes her purpose as activating and supporting women in owning their power and realizing they're worthy AF so they can live their lives full out.

We talk about her divorce and what ultimately led her to stand up for herself; we talk about how she balances a portfolio of careers, the role journaling has played in her life, the importance of self-awareness and how the foundation of self discipline she developed in dance has been a key ingredient for her success.

#PurposePlays from the episode:

• Journal, journal, journal. A few of her favorite exercises:

  • Write down 3 small things you're grateful for every day.

  • Write down 10 of your dreams as if you've already made them come true. (When you write them down as a truth, your brain looks for ways to make them come true.)

• Get support. Challenging times are part of life and you are the only person who can take responsibility for taking care of yourself so honor that and find a therapist, assistant, personal practice, coach, or other confidant.

• Affirmations. Some of Sam's favorites include: I Am Light, I Am Love, I am overflowing with gratitude.

Links:

www.samanthajoharvey.com

@SamanthaJoHarvey

FULL OUT Podcast

Samantha's Book Recommendation: The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

From the moment I saw Donna speak at a women's financial empowerment event here in Santa Barbara, I knew I had to have her on this podcast. Her goofy, yet gracious demeanor is beyond endearing and her personal story of emigrating to the United States from China represents the American Dream at its finest.

Donna is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, but she is not your average advisor. Her personal trials and tribulations have allowed her to identify her unique strengths and passions, which she now applies to make a meaningful contribution to her community. Donna has dedicated her career to providing women with the financial education and support that her family was never fortunate enough to receive.

In this episode, we talk about Donna's experience emigrating to the U.S. and how she ultimately found her way to the wealth management industry; we touch on the power of practicing smart money management, the importance of positive self talk, and her recommendations for staying committed to your purpose (even when life gets in the way).

#PurposePlays from this episode

• Create a financial vision board. Write down the things that are most important to you, the things that give you the most anxiety or fear. Then talk to a financial advisor and map out a game plan with small, measurable steps so you can reach these goals.
• Create a "Lucky Stick List". We all get hit by a Lucky Stick every once in a while, but more often than not we take these moments or things for granted. Create a list of when and how you've been hit with the Lucky Stick (i.e. an alternative to a Gratitude Practice).

Links:

Donna's Practice in Santa Barbara, California

CFP Board list with top questions to ask your Financial Advisor.

Donna's book recommendation: Triumphs of Experience by George E. Vaillant

In this inaugural episode, host Alexandra Cole shares a glimpse of her own personal purpose journey and vision for the podcast and beyond.

She offers a tangible definition of purpose and what it means to live on purpose, as well as the reason so many people decide to settle for less than a full, vibrant, fulfilling life. You'll learn the basics of the Sweet Spot framework and how to start identifying your own Sweet Spot. And finally, Alexandra provides a preview of what to expect from future episodes.