Wake Up and Dream!

It is so rewarding to see in someone the shifts because they are open to thinking new thoughts and feeling different emotions. When Sara and her husband got married in Italy, they promised to make a return trip to celebrate their 10-year anniversary. And that time has now come, but with it has come a lot of anxiety and fear, especially thinking of leaving their 7 year old twin boys for 10 days.

Sara gave us a up-close-and-personal look into the anxious thoughts and feelings of overwhelm that were plaguing her last month. But Sara did not allow herself to stay there. She decided to answer this questions: "How do I want my May to look like? How do I want to feel about May and this upcoming trip?" And the word she picked was EXCITEMENT, and that is the "lens" she began to see everything through. Instead of being worried about the "what if's" she began to envision the exciting things her boys would experience with their special time with their grandparents. She began to talk about the time away differently, as if it was going to be an exciting time for the boys to have their own vacation with grandma and grandpa.

Sara also shared some of the fun, practical things they did to help the boys "experience" Italy with them, as well as create some fun while home with their grandparents! She began to see the "gift" that she was giving them by going away with their dad. During the tough moments, she would remind herself of this truth: "Independence is learned by experience." And this is how we all grow.

Tune in to hear some of the practical, fun things Sara has planned for her boys and remember to share your thoughts and ideas with us when you join our free Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

You can also SUBSCRIBE and watch us on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

Have you ever been on a private retreat? Scheduled a weekend away for just "me, myself, and I?" Checked into a hotel room for an overnight by yourself?

As a busy woman, mom, wife, employee, business owner, etc, we often forget to "refuel." Some of us "refuel" by spending time with people, yet some of us "refuel" by being alone. The point is this: we need to prioritize and create opportunities for us to "refuel" so that we can reflect, re-think, return to our true thoughts and beliefs, and feel centered and grounded again. In this episode, Lisa shares how the "storms" of her life have brought her to a place where she knew she needed a retreat. Lisa shares how the fast pace of life and all of the expectations and responsibilities can leave us drained, empty, and beaten down.

In this episode, Lisa describes some of the things she experienced as she allowed her body to slow down, her breathing to deepen, and her heart to become reconnected with God, at the center of her being. She describes how she saw a beautiful example of surrender, peace, and simple "being" (and not doing) in nature, in the bubbling brook and the trees waiting to bud out. Nature provides this beautiful reminder of the peace we too can have when we rest in our "being" and let go of the "doing" if even for a short time. Lisa mentioned a book that has been helping her quiet her soul and look at all the "parts" inside of us (the child-parts that are wounded, hurt, disappointed, abandoned, angry, etc) and how to best care for those "parts" of yourself is to help your parts feel safe, validated, and listened to. To validate the feelings that come up, allowing them a safe space. And we can do this for the "parts" inside of yourself, but we can also do this for each other, as we empathize with another's thoughts and feelings. What people need more than anything else is for someone to take the take to empathize with them.

We realize getting away for a weekend may not be doable for everyone, but we hope that this episode helped you realize the power of retreating, looking inward, and slowing down enough to allow your body to rest but also for your soul to be renewed and refreshed and recentered.

Here is the link to the book, All Together You, by Jenna Riemersma: https://amzn.to/3MeOQV4

By using this link, you are helping us keep this podcast on the air. Thank you!

We would love to hear how you "refuel" and create times to get away and retreat. Remember to share your thoughts and ideas with us when you join our free Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

You can also SUBSCRIBE and watch us on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

What if we allowed ourselves to release the timeline? When we are so focused on the goal or the destination, we can miss all of the lessons, growth and memories that could happen on the way to the end goal. In today's episode, we take a closer look at the value of releasing the timeline on our goals, expectations, and dreams.

Sara shared how expectations set by society and the academic benchmarks can add unnecessary pressure on kids to be successful and extra pressure on moms to make sure their kids are meeting these benchmarks. And in the process of focusing on the end goal, we miss out on having fun and enjoying the "journey." If the goal is for your child to enjoy reading, we don't want to create an atmosphere of shame and pressure. Release the timeline and simply enjoy the process.

Whether you have goals with your career or expectations with your relationships, releasing the timeline can help you stay present, which prepares us for what is coming in the next chapter. And even when there are set backs, perceived failures, or disappointments, remember this: your current reality does not have to define your future success! Keep doing the inner work of repairing and preparing! We are cheering you on!

And remember to share your thoughts and ideas with us when you join our free Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

You can also SUBSCRIBE and watch us on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

In this episode, we had fun with an analogy comparing our life to a baby shark living inside a fish tank. Sara had read a LinkedIn article, shark-growth-theory-raman-dua and it said this, "Did you ever think what will happen if we grow a shark in a fish tank, will it still grow the same size. Nope, it's not like that , a shark will grow not more than 8 inches if you put it into a tank and the same shark will grow 8 feet in the ocean . The shark will never outgrow its environment and the same is true about you. Our growth and progress of life depends upon our environment and surroundings."

Listen in to hear our lively discussion around this concept. Our environment certainly plays a role in our growth, and realizing that in a lot of ways, we have some control over that, can be empowering. We shared how yes to be stuck in a "fish tank" can definitely thwart your growth, your vision of who you truly want to become and the impact you can have on this world. Yet, even if we feel like we are in the big "ocean" swimming with the bigger fish, do we find ourselves "playing it safe," hanging out in our comfort zone, afraid of swimming into unknown waters? We had a lot of fun using this analogy and we would love to hear your thoughts on this.

1. Do you feel like you are "stuck" in a fish tank with no choice?

2. What is stopping you from "swimming" out into the unknown waters and exploring new growth opportunities?

3. Do you tend to "play it safe" or are you more attracted to growing yourself and stepping into "the unknown waters" of possibilities?

Share your thoughts and ideas with us when you join our free Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

You can also SUBSCRIBE and watch us on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

Today we took a look at emotions as it relates to release and surrender. Oftentimes we have been taught or believe that certain emotions are good and others bad. We tend to judge our emotions. But what if we instead saw our emotions (all of them) as a gift, a way for us to release and surrender the things we are holding onto.

We see this release beautifully in nature, through rain. These "tears from heaven" serve a purpose, as the clouds get too heavy and need to release the moisture. It is necessary for growth and vital to the life cycle. The same is true of releasing the emotions that are pent up inside. In this episode we encouraged our listeners to "release" your feelings by journaling. Getting the thoughts and feelings out of your head and onto paper is a powerful exercise in awareness and can help you to process and even shift your perspectives and understanding of your emotions.

We referenced "How are you, Really?" by Jenna Kutcher as a great resource to help you process your emotions. Here is the link to grab your copy: https://amzn.to/44fWnv0

As you journal, here are 2 important questions to ask yourself:

1. What am I holding onto and is it mine to hold, or does it really belong to someone else?

2. Is what I am choosing to hold onto serving me? Why or why not?

As always, we would encourage you to reach out to us, and join our free Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

You can also SUBSCRIBE and watch us on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

Are you holding onto thoughts and feelings that are full of worry, fear, or "what if's?" In today's episode, Lisa shares how learning how to let go of the things that she couldn't control became magnified during her cancer journey. Anxiety and fear gripped her and left her feeling totally out of control, and ultimately brought her to a place of surrender. Can you relate?

It is a natural instinct to want to control the outcome or situation, but the truth is that we can't control much of what happens in life, but we CAN control what we think and the "lens" we choose to see any situation with.

Awareness is the first step! We can only change something if we are aware of it. The next step is releasing the letting go of the thoughts and feelings that are not serving you. This can be done by pausing, taking a "time out" to breathe, exhaling the thoughts that you are holding onto, and inhaling peace and compassion for yourself. And with each exhale comes surrender and each inhalation comes trust. This is definitely a process but the more we begin to release and surrender the more we will be able to truly start living!

It is SO important to have a bestie or someone you can be real with, confide in, and receive encouragement from, but you can also coach yourself, using the techniques used in the Internal Family Systems therapy model. You can also gain support within our Wake Up and Dream Facebook community. Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

SUBSCRIBE and watch us on our Wake Up and Dream Youtube Channel here: https://youtu.be/4Y_QpngvyPQ

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

[email protected]

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

www.lbri.com/lisatay

This episode is in response to one of YOU, our valued listeners. This listener is starting a new job and wanted advice on how to NOT take old thoughts and habits into her new job environment. Here are some tips from our chat around this topic:

1. It all starts with your "inner work" of visualizing who you want to be when you show up in this new job. Journal about it, write a script detailing how you want it to go, and then FEEL how it is going to feel when you show up, adding value to the company/team and confident that you are the person they selected. Being consistent to daily do this work will play a huge role in the how you "show up" for this new job!

2. Protect your heart and mind by creating boundaries and surrounding yourself only with the people that will be an encouragement to you in your pursuits. Be aware of how the opinions of others are affecting you, both negatively and positively.

3. Let go of the past and remember that a new job means a fresh start. And also remember that there will be days where you feel defeated or want to give up or hit the "terror barrier." This is all normal and part of the process. Keep pressing in and push through because the best version of YOU is waiting to emerge on the other side of the "terror barrier." You got this!

As always, we would encourage you to reach out to us, and join our free Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

You can also SUBSCRIBE and watch us on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

Sara started us off by sharing that she has had a tough week and came to this recording session "just not feeling good about herself" and all the things! Kelly was quick to remind her of what was printed four times on the sweatshirt she was wearing: Be Kind, Be Kind, Be Kind, Be Kind.

Why is it SO easy to be kind to others, to offer a kind word of encouragement to someone else, to have a positive thought about others and yet that same kindness is NOT given to ourselves. Yikes! That is a big "ah-ha" for many of us!

So why is that? Do we feel that we don't deserve kindness? Have we created a belief paradigm that says that we need to work harder and we are not allowed mistakes or short-comings?

Being kind to ourselves is a gift on 2 levels: It is a gift we give to ourselves because it helps us to process our emotions, to understand how past experiences impact how we interpret our present reality. The second gift is the gift we give to our kids, as they watch us process the tough things in life, they will in turn be able to pull from what we have modeled for them, to help them navigate through their own challenges.

Give yourself a look in the mirror and give yourself a "high five" because YOU matter. You are the most important person. Do you believe that? In today's episode, we encourage you to become aware of the feelings that you are experiencing. Journal through those feelings or talk to a trusted safe friend, or reach out to one of us. If you have not already, join our free Facebook community, https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/ and let's connect!

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

SUBSCRIBE and watch us on our Wake Up and Dream Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@wakeupanddreampodcast

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

[email protected]

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

www.lbri.com/lisatay

We are celebrating ONE year as a podcast! Yahoo! So much has happened in the last year, and so much growth has taken place inside of each of us! Never did any of us envision that when we met in person for the first time in November of 2021 that we would be podcast hosts, but here we are!

We are celebrating taking imperfect action and allowing the "path" to unfold right before our very eyes! We are SO grateful for YOU our listeners! We hope that you have been inspired to "wake up" and start pursuing the things that "light you up." We hope that you are enjoying our stories of real life, as we will continue to share our highs and lows, and provide you with practical and life-giving suggestions, recommendations and personal experiences of what has worked for us in this journey called life.

You matter to us, so we would encourage you to join our free Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

SUBSCRIBE and watch us on our Wake Up and Dream Youtube Channel here: https://youtu.be/4Y_QpngvyPQ

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast.

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

[email protected]

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

www.lbri.com/lisatay

On a scale from 1 to 10, where would you rate yourself if asked if you were a risk-taker? In today's episode we took a closer look at our comfort level with "stepping outside the box" and taking risks. Sara shared how she saw herself more as a risk-taker in college and the years to follow, and how having a family has caused her to feel like she needs to consider her kids and family when making decisions (which is of course a good thing) but that is has also hindered her risk-taking in some ways.

What influences whether we take risks or tend to stay in our comfort zone? Some of this has to do with our personalities and natural bends, but we can also be influenced by seeing pertinent people in our own lives taking risks and being inspired to follow their lead. Lisa shared how the example her parents set as she was growing up played an influential role in her desire to take risks and live intentionally.

Sara mentioned the book, Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential , by Matt Higgins, and how it stirred her to think about the power of going "all in" when it comes to your dreams, and not even having a Plan B.

(We may get a little kick back if you order using our link!)

Who inspires you to take risks in alignment with pursuing your goals and dreams? Are you hanging around people that seem very content to live in their "comfort zone?" What if you took time to journal and answer the question: What excites you? What dreams set your heart on fire with the very thought of it? Then continue journaling with these prompts:

1. What is the worst thing that could happen if you took this risk?

2. What are the amazing things that could happen if you took this risk?

As you know, we here at Wake Up and Dream are big proponents in journaling to process our innermost thoughts, desires, and feelings! So, grab a pen and notebook, and let your thoughts flow!

And if this episode inspired you to take action, "burn the boats" of Plan B, and take that risk, we would LOVE to hear about it!

Help us spread the word so we can inspire more women to "wake up and dream." Give us a "shout out" on your social media platforms! Thank you! Drop us a message, LIKE, SHARE, and leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram @wakeupanddreampodcast and be sure to join us in our new, free, and fabulous Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakeupanddream/

See you on "the inside!"

SUBSCRIBE and watch us on our Wake Up and Dream Youtube Channel here: https://youtu.be/4Y_QpngvyPQ

You can also connect with each of us here:

Sara Carlisi:

@saracarlisi1

Kelly Armstrong:

@kellyarmstrongofficial

[email protected]

Lisa Taylor:

@lisa.kay.taylor

[email protected]

www.linktree.com/lisa.kay.taylor

www.lbri.com/lisatay