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Summary

In this powerful conversation, Kyira sits down with longtime friend and colleague Renee Nelson to explore what it truly means to choose yourself, even when it’s hard. From walking away from a stable career and calling off an engagement to redefining what fulfillment looks like at different life stages, Renee shares the courage and self-trust it takes to let go of “fine” in order to thrive. Together, Kyira and Renee reflect on ambivalence, comparison, people-pleasing, and the shame that keeps so many of us from saying no.

Through stories of career pivots, relationship decisions, and the evolving balance between ambition and family life, they highlight the importance of support systems, the fear of irrelevance, and the deep work of trusting that—even in uncertainty—we will be okay. This episode is both deeply personal and widely relatable, offering listeners permission to reevaluate what they’re holding onto, where they may be settling, and how to begin choosing themselves without apology.

Key Takeaways:

• Choosing yourself isn’t selfish — it’s essential for showing up fully in relationships, careers, and life.
• Ambivalence is more dangerous than conflict. Settling for “fine” keeps us stuck in lives that don’t light us up.
• Support systems matter. Having people who encourage your growth makes it easier to face fear and uncertainty.
• Saying no is powerful. It’s not your responsibility to manage other people’s disappointment when you choose differently.
• Fulfillment changes with life seasons. What lit you up 10 years ago may not align with who you are today.
• Comparison steals context. Social media and societal expectations make it easy to feel behind, but your journey is uniquely yours.
• Hard choices often bring the most growth. Walking away from jobs, relationships, or identities that no longer fit creates space for thriving.
• It’s not life or death. Most decisions feel bigger than they are—reminding yourself that you will be okay can help cut through shame and fear.
• Authenticity builds resilience. By choosing ourselves, we create the conditions for deeper connection and more sustainable success.

More about Renee:

Renee Nelson is a travel enthusiast, adventure seeker, studio hopper (gyms) and new to the start up world, after being at a fortune 500 company for her first 7.5 years out of college. She prides herself on trying to find the positives in everything and absolutely adores people.

Connect with Renee:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

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