How often do you acknowledge how awesome you are?

The challenges you've overcome?

How much you've grown?

If you're like most people, it's probably not all that often. But why? And just so you know - that stops NOW. Like, right now.

In this episode, I acknowledge that it's my 50th episode! And I also share how proud of myself I am for creating 50 episodes...how committed I am to showing up for me, AND you - and I freakin' DID IT!

And then I start pondering those questions I opened with...and present a little challenge to you, if you're game.

If you are, send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or email me at [email protected].

The world needs more kindness people - and that kindness can start with you...towards yourself!

I know - this is a bit different from the "regular" episodes right?

Allow me to introduce the Storyteller Series - a space where anyone who has a story to share - can share it.

I believe we learn through storytelling, and we can all learn something from one another. And - each of us has MANY stories to tell!

In this very first episode of the Storyteller Series, Katarzyna Lancouch shares with us her diagnosis of Crohn's Disease, and how that launched her on a journey of wellness AND helped her discover a love of nutrition, as well as a desire to help others live their healthiest lives.

You can follow Kat @katarzynalancouch on Instagram, and if you're interested in joining her wellness challenges or learning more about Beach Body, send her a message!

If you love this episode, please share it with others. And if YOU have a story you'd like to share, please reach out to me @awakentheextraordinary.com.

How often do you look at someone's account on Facebook, Instagram or some other platform and think "man - it looks like they have their sh*t together"?

And realistically you know there is more to the picture than what you're seeing - but if you're constantly seeing people living their best lives in the perfect home with the perfect clothes taking the perfect vacation - it can get to you at times, right?

You may be wondering:

"Am I the only one who's pissed at my partner?"

"Am I the only one who wants an entire weekend all to myself?"

"Am I the only person who has a messy AF house?"

Well, let me tell you - if you feel this way - you're not alone.

I think it's hard to balance the "highlight reels" with "real life." When people share "too much" of their "real life," they may be seen as negative or pessimistic, or labeled as being "too much drama."

I don't have the solution to this or how we "should" feel when we go online...except to serve as yet another reminder that what we see is only a snapshot of what's really happening.

The lens of someone's life is panoramic, but our personal lens isn't equipped to see what. So if you do spend a large amount of time on social media, just remember that there's more going on behind the scenes than you may actually see.

If you like this episode, I want to know! Rate it, leave a review, and let me know if you do so I can personally thank you!

Tag @awakentheextraordinary if you share this in your Stories on Instagram!

Has anyone ever told you "it could always be worse"?

OR...Have YOU ever told someone, or even yourself "it could be worse"?

What's the intent behind that statement? Is it to make someone, or you, feel better about the present situation?

I'm guessing it is...but in saying that to ourselves, or others, are we truly giving permission or allowing space for the feelings to be felt, and the experience to be had? Or are we just "supposed to" feel thankful that it's NOT worse, and simply move on?

I believe that giving ourselves, and others, permission and space to feel what we're feeling allows us to actually move THROUGH the experience or moment. My concern is that in saying "it could always be worse" - we're essentially invalidating our feelings and experiences because "it could be worse."

Just because it "could be worse" or someone else "has it worse" doesn't minimize YOUR feelings and experiences. Yes, you can be grateful that it's NOT worse, but just because it's not as bad as it could be doesn't make what you're feeling or experiencing any "less than."

Your feelings and experiences matter, because YOU matter. And if something sucks, it's OK to say so and feel everything that goes along with it!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Really. Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or share this episode on your Stories and tag me in it. You never know - I just may give you a little sumpin' sumpin if you do!

Have you learned a lesson from someone sharing a personal story with you?

And piggybacking off of that, do you have a story to tell?

Because if you do, I want to talk to you!

I believe everyone has multiple stories to tell - and value to add to the world. I don't think for a second that you need to be some famous celebrity to have a story that's worthy of telling.

If you went through something challenging and learned or grew from it, I want to hear about it.

If you have a funny story to tell that has the potential to make someone else laugh and brighten their day, I want to hear that too!

You don't need to sit with me for an hour - if your story takes 10 minutes to tell, then you have 10 minutes of airtime to tell it!

If this sounds like something you'd be into, send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary.com.

Everyone has a story. And I'd love to hear yours.

Wondering what all of these have in common?

It's pretty simple. If you're in my mind, that is.

All of these are things I talk about in this episode. When it comes to not liking something, or perhaps something just not being your style, and you're faced with a choice - do you speak up? Or do you just bite your tongue "out of respect" for someone else, or fear of offending them, and end up eating something you don't like, keeping something in a drawer you won't wear, or wishing your partner could "just" read your mind?

Why DON'T we speak up more? What if all these little micro moments where we can use our voice to express our likes and dislikes is actually like "training" for those big moments to come?

If you've had a micro-moment where you spoke up, and you'd like to share it with me, please send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or email me at [email protected].

How much time do you spend on your phone?

How much time do you spend on your phone when you're with others?

How much time do you spend not maximizing opportunities to slow down and be present because you're so intent on getting to where you're going or having to "do the thing?"

You may be totally OK with the amount of time you spend on the phone, or going from place to place without pausing to be still. And that's totally fine. But if you have this little voice in the back of your head gently whispering to you about how much time you spend on your phone, or how you need to slow down - maybe this is the reminder you need.

And by the way - you get a glimpse into my life as both my dog and son came in while I was recording! haha So that did distract me some but I did my best to get back to where I left off! C'est la vie, Friends!

If this is a reminder that you needed, or maybe it's a reminder that you DIDN'T know you needed - I'd love to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or share this episode in your Stories and tag me so I can personally thank you!

Do you remember that game you played as a kid? The Hokey Pokey?

You know how you put one foot in (have we ever determined what exactly, we're putting it in TO?), and then took it out, and then put it back in...and so on?

Does it ever feel like you're playing that game when it comes to making your dreams a reality? Because it does for me!

Just when I feel like I'm getting somewhere, those certain aspects of life that I'm trying to move past show up on my doorstep like the dinner guest who forgot their phone (you know, the dinner guest you couldn't wait to get rid of). And so I have to attend to them, again...and somewhat begrudingly....so I can keep on keepin' on.

It can be frustrating and disheartening when you want your attention to be solely on making those dreams a reality and there's still this other stuff kind of lurking in the background.

My advice to you? Don't give up. And even if you can only spend 5 minutes some days making space for those dreams - it's 5 minutes more than 0 minutes, right?

This is YOUR journey. You're not competing with anyone else. Sometimes you need to literally take things one minute at a time - and that's OK. Because those minutes? They add up, Friend. I promise.

If you felt like you were the only one feeling this way before you listened, and now you're relieved to learn that you're not, please share it with others. There may be someone else out there who needs to hear this just as much as you did!

Have you heard about hypnotherapy before?

If so, are your thoughts on it kinda like "whoa - that's too 'woo woo' for me?"

Or maybe it's more like "Isn't that what they do at those county fairs when the hypnotist pats his head and then someone pretends they're a Chippendales 'dancer?'"

And if you relate to either of those - I get it. But hypnotherapy is NOT like those county fairs...although I may strut around at times like I am an exotic dancer.

But seriously - although you may see it as "woo woo," hypnotherapy taps into your subconscious and helps you identify those events that may have played a HUGE part in the way your brain pieced things together as a kid - which probably has WAY more to do with how you react and perceive things now, as an adult, than you may even realize. And when you understand the "why" - it's the first step towards eliminating those mindsets and behaviors that are more of a pain in the a*s than anything else - stuff that really inhibits your ability to life your best life, as your best self.

So if you're curious about hypnotherapy, and my first experience with it, just press Play!

And if you'd like to chat more about it, send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram!

You know that scene in the first episode of "Friends," where Rachel tells her dad that she realized she's "not a shoe," but instead maybe "a hat" or "a purse?" I totally felt that.

Because think about it - how much of your life have you been TOLD who you are - versus you TELLING, or SHOWING, people who you are?

I grew up being told that I was shy by my mother because I was bashful around certain people. So I grew up telling myself I was shy, and living that story, even though I didn't FEEL shy. Once I finally realized "hey - maybe I'm not actually shy" - things started to shift.

And then I began to wonder - what other stories have I been told that aren't true, and are keeping me from being my fully expansive, awesome AF self?

And if certain stories about ME weren't actually true, but kept me from living life as my authentic self...I couldn't be the only one.

If there's a story you grew up believing about yourself that isn't true, I want to hear about it!

Send me a message @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected]!