The Social Scholars Podcast

Sometimes the thing that is most caring, loving and respectful to yourself may also be the most painful thing you need to do. When I trained for my marathons back in the day, the running was challenging in ways you’d expect, but the recovery and self-care in between could be challenging and uncomfortable too. Despite that, it was just as important so that I could be ready and injury-free to take on the next training day and be the person I wanted to be after that experience. On a run earlier this week, I was thinking that while this type of physical self-care was needed during that time, there’s times where the same can be applied to your emotional, mental and spiritual self care. The most caring thing you can do for yourself might also be the hardest. It might hurt or feel uncomfortable. While hot baths and getting your nails done can be self care, the kind of self care you need most to rise up in the new year may not feel relaxing, fun, or easy. But to step into the highest version of you, it's needed in order experience the abundance and joy in life you're absolutely capable and deserving of.  Painful self-care might be getting your taxes ready, being still, saying goodbye, or allowing yourself to fully experience happiness.  We'll be getting into it more in this final episode of Season 2. See you on the inside! xoxo

Her dream was becoming an air traffic controller. Over the course of 6 years she had put in endless amounts of schooling, 6 hour long tests, and navigated setbacks to even have a chance at making that dream come true when she finally got accepted into the one and only air traffic school.  But after a rigorous training schedule over months of the academy, in the final hour of her final test, she failed.  No redo's. No coming back for another chance. It was over.  Within minutes, the dream she had been planning her life around was completely gone.  As you can imagine, she was crushed. As what she lost began to sink in more and more, so did her anger, sadness and sense of purpose. It was a rough patch that lasted years of feeling lost, uncertain and disappointed, but when you tune into this final interview episode of Season 2, you'll hear about how a mix of more closed doors and tenacity finally opened the one door that explained why all the other ones had been closed.  With everything that's happened this year, I thought Emilie's story was the perfect way to close this Season out as a reminder you're not alone or a failure if you've had your own closed doors and and rugs being pulled from under you. I think you'll also find it uplifting and hopeful that the story isn't over until it's over and there's plenty of opportunity to change the narrative along the way.  AND if you're at all interested in aviation, you're going to hear some interesting behind the scenes of what goes on when you step on your flights!  Be sure and connect with Emilie on Instagram and let her know what you most related to or enjoyed about her interview! https://www.instagram.com/emilieann10/

"Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands the Resistance."  Your worst enemy isn't who you think it is. The enemy that does the most damage is the one inside your head that you lay down every night with and wake up to every morning.  If there's something you've been putting off - writing a book, a meditation practice, training for a marathon, getting back on the dating scene, starting a business, sharing your experiences and opinions more on social media, moving, a bedtime routine that could help you sleep better - you've most likely encountered what Steven Pressfield calls the Resistance.  It can't be seen, heard, or touched, but it can be felt.  It takes form as procrastination, fear, drama, excuses, victimhood, self-doubt, unhappiness, even love, logic, and healing. It's anything that stands between you and the person you are capable of becoming.  It's self-sabotage and sabotage by others who may even care for and love you, but are dealing with their own Resistance.  It's something that has to be managed every day. It never goes away.  And it's not always so obvious. Instead of encouraging you to never start, it will whisper that you're going to do it - starting tomorrow.  So the best way to combat Resistance is to start. As messy, imperfect, uninspired, and not ready as it might be - start anyway. Because otherwise you're cheating the world of your contribution and gift to the world. Inside the Book of the Week, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battle, you'll find 15 other ways to move through the Resistance so that whatever idea that's has been growing inside of you - the one (or more than one!) you've most likely been shoving down because it doesn't make sense or it's not the right time or you're not the one to do it - can finally be brought into existence for your own sake and for the benefit of the world around you.  Is this thing you've been thinking about (for week, months or maybe years!) what you were meant to do and be? The only way to find out it to sit down and do it.  I hope this week's BOTW inspires you to go out and not only add this one to your shelf, but to take that feeling seriously that's telling you to do or be something more. You don't have to knock it out of the park on your first try, or 10th try. The only thing that matters is that you sit down, put your time in, and give it all you've got. xoxo >>> You can grab this week's book HERE: https://amzn.to/3gu2cNe >>> If your have a business idea you're ready to bring to life based on your experience and expertise, but would like a little help getting it started or overcoming a specific roadblock, I'm hosting 1:1 Personal Brand Builder Power Hours between now and Christmas and would be honored to be a small part of your journey bringing it to life. If you like my style and are ready to get started, you can book yours HERE or reach out on Instagram with any questions (@sarahlynn.co). 

Paul Rahn is the Founder and Owner of the ClassPass top studios SWEAT on State and Maple Leaf Crossfit in and around the Chicago-area.  Back in 2013 he was at the height of his career at Starbucks, leading a team of 50+ employees at the busiest store in Chicago and one of the top stores in the US. He had the best benefits, a big paycheck, and an impressive job title.  But yet, he knew he was capable of more.  Not more money or status, but more meaning.  Can you relate to things being good enough? But maybe there's a tug that won't go away for some crazy idea or you just know where you are right now isn't where your supposed to stay? If so, you're going to love this episode that is one example of what's possible when you consciously choose a path of purpose and happiness, despite it being terrifying at many points along the way (including actually getting started).  AND since Paul is the owner of a fitness business, stay tuned at the end for some his best tips for getting into shape and feeling your best.  Get more doses of Paul's inspiration over on: Instagram: @prmfit and @sweatfitnessstudios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweatfitnessstudios If you're in the Chicago area looking for a gym home or are anywhere in the world looking for a legit virtual workout, check out the options over at SWEAT: https://sweatfitnessstudios.com/ Paul books recommendations:  Declutter Your Mind: by SJ Scott

The title from this episode comes from my favorite cookbooks - Thug Kitchen (more cookbook recommendations at the end) and the Book of the Week is one that transformed how I eat forever.  In today's conversation, we're getting into the book, The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health by T. Colin Campbell PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II.  It's filled with research, studies, and resources on the benefits of minimizing the meat and dairy we consume and the case for adding in more (real) plants.   You'll get a sneak peek of the wide-range of areas this book covers as we go through today, 13-fun and random facts that will give you something to chew on (cheesy pun intended) and might entice you to go and grab this book for yourself.  It is VERY "sciency" so if you like that kind of thing, ,you'll appreciate this. If you're not so much into that level of detail, there's plenty of charts and graphs to follow along and still get the point. Either way, once you get into it, I think you'll find it very eye-opening and maybe even binge-worthy as you learn more about how to live longer, be healthier, and prevent/reverse disease.  You'll hear how despite being a vegetarian since college, I wasn't that healthy (mostly because I didn't actually eat that many vegetables), and how this book significantly shifted my perspective on what I put into my body and what goes into the food I put into my body.  After committing to this transformation a little over 10 years ago, my acne and "backne" that I was still majorly struggling with in my mid-20s became almost non-existent,  my skin also felt brighter, I rarely was ever constipated (I thought this could me TMI, but I know you can handle it), I lost weight, and I was able to complete a full marathon, 100% on a plant-based diet, in less than 4 hours (sharing this not to brag, but to highlight the strength and energy I had from this shift).  When you think about food, I always like the approach of how I can add in more healthy foods instead of  focusing on all the will-power you're going to need to cut things out. I have found almost by default that will happen overtime by getting crowded out by all the food that's bringing you health and energy. *I think we all already are aware of this but just in case - I am NOT a medical professional of any kind. The information I shared today is directly from this book or my own personal experience, which most likely will be different from yours. I know you're smart and will consult with your doctor on any major changes this book might inspire. xoxo.  Additional Resources:  Grab The China Study here: https://amzn.to/3fPez5U Thug Kitchen Cookbook: https://amzn.to/36jxQta The Joy of Vegan Baking: https://amzn.to/37g2B1s Prevent and Reverse Hearth Disease book: https://amzn.to/36nswVU The Truth About Cancer: https://amzn.to/2VkdTvX Thrive - The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports: https://amzn.to/2JwEZxd Forks Over Knives documentary: https://www.forksoverknives.com/ Food Inc. documentary: https://youtu.be/IJDGUxqEdYY Mayo Clinic article - How plant-based food helps fight cancer: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/how-plant-based-food-helps-fight-cancer/art-20457590 The Gerson Therapy method: a natural treatment that activates the body’s extraordinary ability to heal itself through an organic, plant-based diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements - more here.

"Everything you need to know to captivate, excite, and motivate an audience (turtleneck not included)."  Standing up and speaking out whether on stage for a presentation, a Facebook live, or even in a team meeting, can be one of the scariest things we do. It can be terrifying to think of having the spotlight on you and to know what others could be thinking about you.  But, without getting visible and sharing our thoughts, opinions, and what we know, it's hard to help others and it can be hard to move towards your goals.  Whether you are running your own business sharing your offers and products or are looking to apply for a new job or promotion, knowing how to captivate, excite and motivate the person or people in front of you can help you make those goals happen.  In this book, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience by Carmine Gallo, you're going to learn how to: create an inspiring brand story answer the question that matters most to your audience paint a memorable and consistent vision make numbers meaningful  build visually engaging slides master state presence  make it look effortless rehearse effectively have fun  I also share at the end about how to use what you learn from this episode and apply it to podcast guesting with another great resource coming up in December with my former business coach, Christine McAlister of Life with Passion. She's hosting a training called 100 Interviews in 90 Days that is going to teach you how to find and book shows, what to say when you're on a podcast, and how to be the best guest they've ever had with a follow up strategy very few people are doing.  You can sign up for the 100 Interview in 90 Days Masterclass through my affiliate link HERE or shoot me a message and I'll send you the link directly.  IG: @sarahlynn.co  email: hello@sarahlynnco.com

Natalie Williams has lived the "Liz Gilbert in the wild" life - traveling all over the world and experiencing all this planet has to offer. In this episode we get to not only hear her biggest life lessons learned while out in the "wild" that you're going to get so much from, but also what can unfold for you when you start getting your stories and opinions more visible and how to navigate when you're not your old self anymore but also not yet fully blasted off into your new self.  You'll also hear from Natalie on:  how to get going when you're ready to uplevel but not exactly sure what that looks like  noticing when you might be creatively repressed and what to do about it dissecting fears to uncover a common theme  overcoming the fear of other people's opinions and realizing they are actually none of your business being aware of jealousy and the important message it may be trying to tell you realizing the biggest thing everyone who's getting negative feedback does how to know if you're sharing too much? or maybe not enough? becoming unstoppable in uncertainty  why ignoring the call won't make it go away identifying what it feels like in your body to be in alignment (and what it's like when you're not) getting rid of the stigma around changing your mind and pivoting  truth bombs for anyone else ready to embrace the fullest expression of themselves  Natalie recommended 2 books that have helped her along this journey: Belong: Find Your People, Create Community, and Live a More Connected Life by Radha Agrawal  May Cause Love: An Unexpressed Journey of Enlightenment After Abortion by Kassie Underwood Be sure and follow along with Natalie for more inspiration and goodness over on Instagram at @natalieintheraw and let her know what you most enjoyed about this one! 

This resource by Patrick Michael Ryan is a little different than the cover to cover reads I've recommended in past episodes, but still one for the bookshelf.  Understanding our own emotions and developing emotional intelligence towards others has been something that I've been exploring for the last couple of years, and this book was the gateway for a lot of that. It's also been a big help in better understanding how I feel beyond simply happy, sad, and mad.  While we may not always want to act on our emotions and say or do something we might regret (I know this from first hand experience...), there are benefits to feeling those emotions fully, however ugly or hard they might be. In this episode, we get into that a little more along with:  how to avoid anxiety when we feel joy or happiness because we're thinking it's too good to be true or about what's around the corner why the goal isn't to feel happy all the time what can happen when we embrace our sadness  anger being a secondary emotion and how expanding our emotional vocab can help get to the primary emotion the question my therapist asked me when I was engulfed with rage for weeks that changed my outlook to this day and how by better understanding our own emotions we can more fully show up for others in our lives dealing with their own feelings. You can grab Patrick's Dictionary of Emotions on Amazon here or at your local bookstore.  As always I'd love to hear from you about anything that resonated or what you got from the book when you read it - message me on Instagram @sarahlynn.co or email at hello@sarahlynnco.com. xoxo 

Today's guest expert interview is private conversation we had inside the Season 2 of the paid group INSTABrand: A 21 Day Personal Branding Program that Leverages the Power of Instagram and I'm excited to pull it out and share it with you as a compliment to our Book of the Week from Monday: The Kickass Single Mommy (episode 089.).  This was such an empowering conversation with Eirin that busts through unhelpful stories women and society have about their investing abilities and how to become truly wealthy through a well-researched investing plan. You'll also hear from Eirin on:  The 4 step path to being reading to invest High level considerations for fees, interest rates and inflation Why women are actually better investors :) Long, medium and short term investing Limiting beliefs you overcome as women investors Mindset around savings vs investing and earning vs. buying  Her top money book - Tony Robbins Money Master the Game - and she answers our investing questions!  Once you have a chance to listen, be sure and drop @eirin.holmeide a quick note over on Instagram (here) and let her know a top takeaway for you! I know it always means so much to hear from how you helped someone.  You can also find her over on LinkedIn here.  She'll be running another program soon so be on the look out when you follow her on social media! 

"May you always have the freedom and courage to create the family that you want and need."  - Emma Johnson  Certain stats out there about single mothers would have you believe that you are doomed to a life of welfare, struggle and your children are destined for trouble and probably prison.  While some of those stats might be true, that doesn't have to be true for your single mom journey.  This week's Book of the Week is a helpful resource for any single mom or mom that is considering decisions that would put her in that situation in the future.  The Kickass Single Mom: Be Financially Independent, Discover Your Sexiest Self, and Raise Fabulous, Happy Children by Emma Johnson is a book I read a few years ago that had a huge impact on how I saw myself as a single mom and inspired me to take full responsibility for my situation and creating the best life possible for my son and me.  In this episode you'll hear about several of the topics covered in Emma's book - some inspiring and others that might be triggering at first - but all will make you think and give you hope how you can not just survive single motherhood, but really thrive in it.  The book is broken out into 4 main sections: Single 2.0 Money  Parenting Dating Within each section, I share some of the specific chapters that stood out to me and lessons learned from my own experience as a single mom, including how I become one, finally detaching from the child support chase, letting go of anger and bitterness, the experience of having an involved father figure for my son from a past relationship, getting over my selfish need to be the only one my son could have fun with, the self-sabotaging strategy of being a mom martyr, allowing for help, what I learned from dating single dads and seeing the "other side," and intentionally seeking fulfillment outside of motherhood and work.  Other chapters that are touched on but Emma gets more into the juicy details on inside the book itself include: Busting through the Stereotypes for You and Your Child(ren) The Importance of Being Financially Independent No Matter What How Alimony and Child Support Could Keep You Stuck  Estate Planning for Single Moms  Outsourcing = The Secret Formula to Single Mom Success Good Guys Like Women Who Are Financially Independent  Co-Parent Like a Pro The Argument for Equally Shared Parenting  Your Relationship with Your Ex's New Girlfriend  A Sexually Satisfied Mom is a Happier Mom  If You're Stuck and Not Dating  Where Are All the Good Men? Dating and Your Kids  If you have any questions about single motherhood that you want to ask me don't hesitate to reach out and message me over on IG at @sarahlynn.co or email at hello@sarahlynnco.com! xoxo Below are the Single Mom Tribe resources I mentioned at the beginning of the episode:  Single Mom Tribe website My interview with Bri on the Single Mom Tribe podcast here Single Mom Tribe on Instagram Add The Kickass Single Mom to your own bookshelf here (affiliate link) 

BOOK OF THE WEEK  My friend Katie Taylor (IG: @_katietaylor) changed my life a little when she sent me this book as a gift earlier this Spring. Simple Abundance is a daily devotion type of book that shares messages of creativity, spiritual practices, and reflections for a living a more authentic self.  I don't just have books on a shelf - I have book children so it's hard to pick a favorite, but the fact this one rarely is sitting on a shelf and instead, in whatever room I was last in tells you how much I love and how often I read this one.  Sarah starts each day with a short title and a quote dating back from the 1600s or all the way up to Lady Gaga, so if you're at all a quote person, you'll love it just for that.  If the size of the book intimidates you - don't let it. Each "chapter" ranges 1 -3 pages, so totally do-able to read daily while your coffee brews or while you let the dog out.  At the end of each month, she shares practical ideas for implementing the topics from the month. For example - November she had themes of following the Light, so one of her "Try This at Home" tips was to create a Caution Closet that had a portable light and other items needed in an emergency situation.  Right after those, she shares a list of "Simple Abundance" ideas to make your life easier or better in some way - like having a battery drawer that's fully stocked so you never get frustrated because you don't have a battery for the TV remote or your child's favorite toy.   Listen to episode 88 on the podcast today to get the details on why you might want to pick this book up for yourself (or as a gift!) and one of my favorite exerts about How to Start Over.  Grab your own copy*: https://amzn.to/3oOMiAJ The Panteger Ceremonial Matcha Green Tea* I mentioned I was drinking: https://amzn.to/2HVKfu0 *these are affiliate links so you will be adding to my book fund if you purchase through one of these links. Another option is to support your local bookstore! 

On Monday for our Book of the Week episode you heard about Witches: Unleashed, Untamed, Unapologetic by Lisa Lister (episode 086.). Today for a special Full Moon Halloween episode, you're going to get to hear from real life witch, Winifred Costello, Owner and Founder of the online witch shop, AwenTree and online community, The Witching Well on: how witches arrive at their identity/practice her own childhood story of when she realized it the religion of wicca that has nothing to do with devil worshiping  understanding the terminology and when to use what words the similarities between personal development and witchcraft how witches reenchant the world why hexes shouldn't be put on exes  the myths about potions a daily practice to connect deeper with yourself  and how the stereotype witch ended up on a broom Learn more about Winifred over on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/awentree/ Check out the True Magick book recommendation she gave and the oracle deck cards at her online shop: https://awentree.com/ What was a surprising or interesting takeaway from this one? Drop be a note over on Instagram @sarahlynn.co and let me know!

"Being a witch isn’t about what you do, its not spells, rituals, and ceremonies. It’s the stance you take in life." I realize the topic of this Book of the Week, might not be of interest to everyone and for others might even be offensive. One of the reasons I liked this book so much though is because it's not just about what you think it's going to be about.  Yes, Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic by Lisa Lister, a gypsy witch, is a book about: what a witch is the different types of witches (I had no idea there was more than one) the evolution of witches over the centuries  the terrorized history many women experienced, self-identified witches and others inaccurately labeled as witches  and an entire chapter dedicated to rituals and practices for love, prosperity and good luck And it's also an empowering personal development book focused on:  Naming and facing your fears so that they don't hold you back from all your potential Getting visible and using your voice to express your thoughts and opinions (not just about witchcraft)  The "shoulding" we all do on ourselves and how to stop comparing ourselves to others Tapping into and then trusting your intuition Manifesting  Journaling and gratitude  Compassion and how to call people in vs. call them out The power and magic of all women - the connection we have to the moon cycles, Mother Earth and our ability to create life I think we can get into a lot of trouble when we only seek out resources that feed our narrative of how the world works, and when we allow ourselves to see it in black and white, good or bad, their way and my way. That's why I picked up this book and why as the same time I was reading a book about Christianity called, Jesus Is ____ by Judah Smith.  I don't want my view of the world, other people different than me, and my beliefs to have unconsciously been created, accepted as truth, and then never allowed to be shifted or changed.   If you're open to it, this book will absolutely give more to think about when it comes to witchcraft and maybe more importantly, about other ways of looking at the world, at other people, and at yourself.  “Don’t trust this book. Or me. Trust yourself.”

"Too many of us don't know how to treat ourselves well, almost as if we feel like we don't deserve to, don't have time to, don't want to feel guilty about doing so."              -Dominque Browning, American Writer and Editor The book of the week episode on Monday was an overview of the relationship book, Conscious Loving (my new favorite! You can find out why here in Episode 84), so in this one we're continuing the theme on relationships, but today, focusing on the one you have with yourself.  And not just the relationship you have with yourself, but how you can still enjoy a full life even when you're not in a relationship.  One of the biggest lessons I have learned in all the dating over the last couple of decades is to focus less on who I want that "special person" to be and more on how I want to feel when I'm with them.   What would be on your list? I have written things like I want to feel fun, adventurous, flirty, calm, etc. and then at one point reflecting on my list when I've met my dream guy, I asked myself why do I have to wait to feel and do those things? Is there a way to feel them now?  The answer of course is, yes and you can start practicing as soon as today.  Would it be nice to have a special someone to experience with all the things in life you want to do? Of course! But that part is out of your hands, so why do you have to wait around to do and have the life you want?  You don't, and in this episode, to help you get the wheels turning for your own list, you'll hear some of the ideas I've implemented to help ignite some of those feelings and live more fully, without waiting or putting that responsibility on someone else.  Resources:  Listen to Monday's Book of the Week episode, Conscious Loving: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/083-7-steps-to-take-love-off-the-default-mode/id1494532397?i=1000495292543 Simple Abundance book: https://amzn.to/2FTJ8dp

The Book of the Week is our first book talking about relationships called Conscious Loving The Journey to Co-Commitment: A Way to Be Fully Together Without Giving Up Yourself by Gay Hendricks and Kathlyn Hendricks.  I heard about this one on a recent episode of True Sex, Wild Love with Whitney Miller who I love and follow over on Instagram (@whitnlove), so when she said this book was her go-to relationship book that she's read multiple times, I immediately headed over to Audible to download it.  However, about halfway through listening to it, I ended up ordering the hardcopy because there were so many things I wanted to highlight and come back to. Plus, Part II of the book is all practical application and strategies to implement so I would recommend grabbing the hardcopy as well so you'll have as a reference to come back to.  I've read a lot of really good relationship books over the years, mostly when I've been single (because I wanted to be "ready" :) ) and this is the best one I've read to date.  My favorite things about it are it's focus on coming to a relationship has a whole person, ideas for how to actually be "whole," getting out of victim mode regardless of what is going on, the importance of self-love, and the amazing relationship that can emerge when you're building one another up vs. tearing each other down.  The book is packed full of helpful lists, perspective shifts, examples, and exercises. In this episode, you'll hear the 7 Steps to a Conscious, Co-Commitmented Relationship that I know you'll get something from regardless if you pick this book up or not (but I highly recommend you do!).  Resources:  Here is the delicious fall tea I mentioned I was drinking, Hot Spice Cinnamon by Harney & Sons (I get the big 50 sachets bag from Amazon): https://amzn.to/359Ykf6 The True Sex and Wild Love podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-sex-wild-love/id1472061802 The hardcopy of this book if you want to add it to your own bookshelf (*affiliate link): https://amzn.to/37jzxro

Amy Mae is a librarian by day, Human Design Love Expert everyday, and proud plus-sized babe who's a fellow Manifesting Generator going through a transition in her business that she's fully embracing.  We met at a James Wedmore event last year when she bravely stood up and shared a vulnerable moment in her then-business and ever since, I've been so impressed and girl crushing on how fully she shows up to her community in the most genuine and loving way.  In this episode 82 we get into a few topics you might be able to relate to:  Why she's changing her mind again (this is why we jive so well :))  The journey from plus size personal trainer idea to human design dating business  How to know when you're ready to pivot whether it's in your business, your Facebook group name, or your eating habits The initial struggles around being a dating coach when she was struggling with her own relationship (can anyone else relate?) Why she started being more intentional expressing her emotions vs. surpressing them Setting boundaries, especially with those closest to you When you don't know what you actually like or want  Taking a break from social media )(your business will not fall apart) Loving  your body and the benefits of a good naked dance party  The conditioning we grow up with to not love our bodies  What the judgment of others really means Not every plus-size person wants to lose weight Why you might want to schedule your own boudoir photo session :)  AND of course, do a quick overview of each Human Design type and how they show up in dating.  Get connected with Amy and let her know what you loved most from this interview! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamymae/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007895448053 Join her FB Group, Love by Design to get in on her free masterclass on attracting your soulmate: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovingbydesign

Much like the Byron Katie book, Loving What Is, that I shared with a few weeks ago, this book by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. has the ability to almost instantaneously change your life by helping you better understand what’s underneath the beliefs about yourself, your loved ones and the world as a whole and then detach from them as needed to live a more authentic and free version of yourself. This book will absolutely push you to come off auto-pilot for your decision making and help you to come have more productive and loving conversations with people who don’t believe what you do.

How many people will it take to feel relevant? Is wanting for future strangers to find you relevant more important than the friends and family that already find you incredibly relevant in their lives? Is there a way to spend more time and effort with those people than planning for and worrying about getting more? These are just some of the questions my friend called me out on recently when I was trying to explain why I wasn’t living my full potential or purpose yet. And why I wasn’t relevant enough because I didn’t have a certain about followers, amount of downloads, or money in the bank. I’m sharing with you the questions he posed to me that day because if you spend anytime at all over social media you might be able to relate to this feeling and find value in your own reflections from these.

This week's Book of the Week is A Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You DECIDE, CREATE, CONNECT and LEAD by Warren Berger.  If you are looking for help with a big decision or to have more meaningful conversations you're going to get so much from this book and catch some helpful highlights in this episode.  I read this book almost two years ago, and to this day continue to go back and reference it. Because of that, if you feel compelled to add it to your own bookshelf, I would definitely recommend the hardcopy. This way, you can easily refer back to it as needed for inspiration and reminders.   The powerful questions in this book can help you: Identify opportunities in your career or industry Generate fresh ideas in business or in your own creative pursuits Check your biases so you can make better judgements and decisions Do a better job of communicating and connecting with the people around you Whether you end up reading this one or not, you will catch some of my favorite questions from each category and start to uplevel your career, decision making, relationships and life in general by simply upleveling the questions you ask yourself. 

"They whine. I wine." A interview looking behind the curtain of the mommy wine culture.  Samantha Perkins is a mom of two, landlord, and creator of the AliveAF blog. She also just celebrated 3 years being alcohol-free.  In this conversation Samantha shares more about: what's behind the mommy wine and Rose All Day memes  when she realized her own happy hour creeping up early  each day and what lead her to explore why eating healthy, but still not being "healthy" the curiosity that lead her to understanding more about the science behind her habits the link between anxiety and depression to alcohol  the decision to become sober and how it impacted her social life the life-changing benefits she's experienced since making that decision and why she considers it self-love and we also get to how writing and starting her blog has helped manage anxiety without having to turn to alcohol To learn more about Samantha and her story, check out her blog below and follow along her journey over on Instagram:  AliveAF Blog: https://www.spaliveaf.com/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthaperkins_aliveaf/