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In this episode, Monique shares her personal process for annual reflection, offering insights into how she evaluates the past year and sets intentions for the year ahead with clarity and purpose. Tune in to discover how embracing feminine energy and becoming more emotionally available can transform your approach to goal setting and personal growth.

As you listen to this episode, you'll be inspired to reflect on your own journey and consider how you can set intentions that align with your values and aspirations. Happy New Year, and here's to a year of intentional living and personal growth!

📢As a special note, Monique is opening her coaching waitlist for February 2025. You can sign up through her website to receive updates and secure a spot for transformative one-on-one coaching.

MENTIONED
YearCompass
42 | Committing To Success That Heals You With Marla Teyolia
13 | Re-Mothering Ourselves

GEMS DROPPED
"I am caring less and less about my annual planning process as annual planning. I care very much about setting clear intentions for the time ahead."

“I ​spent ​a ​lot ​of ​years ​in ​more ​of ​my ​masculine ​energy ​in ​building ​this ​business. ​And ​after ​having ​baby ​number ​two, we ​didn't ​have ​it ​in ​us ​to ​continue ​to ​keep ​that ​up ​in ​the ​same ​way. ​And ​so I ​had ​to ​trust ​that ​the ​seeds ​that have ​been ​planted ​in ​those ​previous seasons ​would ​allow ​me to gently reap ​what ​had ​been ​sown. So ​in ​2024, ​I ​came ​into ​the ​year ​with ​a ​clear ​focus ​​on ​depth ​and ​well ​being ​and ​how ​those ​two ​interact ​both ​for ​me ​personally ​and ​professionally. Embracing ​this ​was ​about ​embracing ​a ​more ​feminine, ​energetic ​approach which is ​a ​lot ​more ​about ​what ​you ​can ​attract. It's ​a ​creative ​energy ​that ​is ​not ​about purely ​execution ​or ​hunting. ​It's ​about ​believing ​that you ​can ​experience a ​holistic ​well ​being. Because ​I ​decided ​that, ​this ​is ​the ​highest ​grossing ​revenue ​year ​for ​my ​business, ​which ​is ​wild ​because ​I ​did ​the ​least.”

“I'm ​really ​proud ​of my ​decision, ​my ​commitment ​to ​continuously coming ​back into ​a ​feminine ​posture ​of ​receiving ​and ​not over ​exerting ​myself. Resting ​in ​the ​magnetism, ​the ​attraction ​and ​the ​abundance, and ​just ​allowing ​for ​things ​to ​unfold ​in ​my ​favor.​ I ​mean ​down ​to ​like ​little ​things ​with ​grandparent ​help ​and ​things ​like ​that, where ​before ​I ​used ​to ​be ​like, ​no, ​I ​need ​to ​be ​the ​one, ​or ​no, ​I ​shouldn't ​stay ​on ​the ​trip ​this ​one ​extra ​day. ​It ​was ​just ​like, ​no, ​the ​help ​has ​been ​offered. ​Receive ​it, ​receive ​it ​fully.”

“My ​goal into ​next ​year ​is ​to ​start ​being ​more ​emotionally ​available. ​I ​realized ​that ​I ​have ​been ​robbing some ​of ​my ​closest ​relationships of ​the ​fullness ​of ​who I am. My ​daughter ​deserves ​to ​see ​what ​it ​looks ​like ​for ​a ​grown ​Black ​woman, ​the ​leading ​grown ​Black ​woman ​in ​her ​life, ​to ​experience ​emotion ​so ​she ​knows ​it's ​okay ​for ​her ​to ​experience ​the ​full ​range ​of ​emotion.”

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Welcome 2025 with us as we celebrate our 50th podcast episode! 🎉

Join Monique as she reflects on the top five episodes—ranked by downloads and impact—exploring themes like embracing change, prioritizing well-being, and balancing humanity with wealth.

Monique also shares exciting news about her upcoming speaking engagement at Rachel Rogers' ROI Millionaire Summit, a conference aimed at empowering marginalized identities to achieve financial success.

Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode serves as both a guide to the most impactful episodes and a celebration of the journey so far. Thank you for being a crucial part of our community. Here's to another year of growth, reflection, and ambition.

📢As a special note, Monique is opening her coaching waitlist for February 2025. You can sign up through her website to receive updates and secure a spot for transformative one-on-one coaching.

TOP 5 EPISODES
#1) Episode 25 | Avoiding The Real Work
#2) Episode 26 | When Achievement Is No Longer The Goal
#3) Episode 27 | Scaling Your Humanity With Your Wealth
#4) Episode 29 | Betting On My Wellbeing: Sharing My Practices
#5) Episode 01 | Embracing Your Next Season - How To Let Go Of What's Holding You Back

HONORABLE MENTIONS
#6) Episode 32 | The Right Time Is Not Coming
#7) Episode 30 | How I Became A Podcaster - 1 Year Anniversary Episode!
#8) Episode 12 | Allowing Your Ambition To Evolve with Jereshia Hawk
#9) Episode 31 | When Will It Ever Be Enough?
#10) Episode 28 | Beneath The Struggle To Ask For Help

MENTIONED

• Where Monique is Speaking: ROI Millionaire Summit by Rachel Rodgers Jan 15-17 2025 in Huntington Beach California. My session is the afternoon of Weds, Jan 15 for Golden Ticket holders... get your tickets here!
• Book: We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers

GEMS DROPPED
"Take a moment to appreciate yourself for having the level of integrity with yourself that you have had, no matter how big or small the commitment."

"The work that actually unlocks the success that we're deeply craving is the work that we're avoiding."

"When you share from the vulnerable place, you create powerful influence and connect with people as a leader."

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Have you ever felt the pull to close one chapter of your life and start a new one, only to be held back by an invisible ball and chain?

This episode tackles the heart of that struggle, exploring how we can make meaningful shifts in how we work, live, and perceive ourselves. Join Monique on this live broadcast episode as she discusses how to break free from old identities, embrace personal evolution, and seek permission from within.

Tune in for a transformative conversation that challenges you to rethink the rules you've lived by and invites you to create from a place of artistry and authenticity.

📢As a special note, Monique is opening her coaching waitlist for February 2025. You can sign up through her website to receive updates and secure a spot for transformative one-on-one coaching.

GEMS DROPPED
“Once ​we've ​reached ​a ​certain ​level ​of ​achievement ​and ​success ​in ​our ​lives, ​oftentimes ​then we ​have ​the ​privilege ​of ​looking ​up ​and ​creating ​from ​this ​place ​of ​artistry, ​like ​actually ​being ​a ​creative, ​taking a paintbrush to ​blank ​canvas ​and ​building ​from ​scratch. ​How we ​see ​the ​world, ​how we ​want ​things ​to ​be, ​how we ​want ​to ​exist. ​And ​that ​level ​of ​freedom ​can ​come ​with ​a ​lot ​of ​fear ​and ​it ​can ​be ​disorienting. ​But ​it ​is ​the ​place ​that ​we, ​I ​think, ​all ​deserve ​to ​be ​at.”

“I ​think ​the ​top ​two ​reasons ​that ​I ​hear ​from ​people ​who ​are ​scared ​to ​pivot, ​who ​are ​scared ​to ​make ​the ​leap: ​number ​one, ​there's ​some ​scarcity ​thing ​going ​on ​around money. ​But ​I ​think ​that ​the bigger ​driver ​is ​something ​around ​this ​invisible ​audience ​that ​is ​judging ​our ​every ​move. ​The ​language ​that ​people ​use ​constantly ​is ​’I ​get ​scared of ​what ​people ​will ​think ​or ​what ​people ​will ​say’. Like, what people? Who ​are ​you ​talking ​about? ​Who ​specifically ​are ​you ​referring ​to? ”

“Usually ​there ​are ​specific ​relationships, there ​are ​specific ​groups ​of ​people ​that ​we ​have ​related ​to ​in ​a ​certain ​way, ​who ​have ​seen ​us ​occupy ​a ​certain ​identity, ​who ​have ​seen ​us ​in ​a ​certain ​light ​that ​we ​don't ​want ​to ​break ​our ​current ​image ​with ​them. ​We're ​terrified ​of ​becoming ​something ​unrecognizable ​to ​​these ​people ​or ​a ​specific ​person. ​And ​​the ​way ​these ​show ​up ​in ​our ​thoughts ​and ​in ​our ​minds ​that ​then ​influence ​our ​actions ​is ​what ​I've ​been ​calling an ​invisible ​audience.”

“There's ​a ​physiological ​connection ​to ​the ​ways ​in ​which ​we ​are ​not ​allowing ​ourselves ​to ​show ​up ​in ​the ​fullness ​of ​who ​we ​are and ​we've ​created ​all ​of ​these ​rules ​around ​these ​old ​identities ​that are no ​longer ​going ​to ​serve ​us. ​We ​have ​created ​all ​of ​these ​limitations ​and ​rules ​and ​constraints ​based ​off ​of ​old ​spaces, ​places ​and ​identities ​that ​we've ​had ​to ​occupy ​or ​that ​we've ​chosen ​to ​occupy ​in ​the ​past and ​that ​stuff ​is ​sticking ​with ​us.”

"Sacrifice is meant to be temporary. It is not meant to be the end all, be all, forever state of things."

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In a world where success is often defined by external benchmarks and societal expectations, Monique invites us to pause and reflect on the art of intentional living. Tune in as Monique shares her personal framework, "Nature, Nurture, Navigate," guiding us to understand our inherent strengths and make choices that resonate with our true self.

Press play now to learn how aligning your actions with your core values can lead to a more fulfilling and abundant life. This is the first step into a life of intentional living. Listen now!

📝As a special note, Monique announces the opening of her coaching waitlist for February 2025. You can sign up through her website to receive updates and secure a spot for transformative one-on-one coaching.

MENTIONED
Episode 27 | Scaling Your Humanity With Your Wealth

GEMS DROPPED
“Discomfort ​is ​necessary ​for ​us ​to ​grow, but ​not ​all ​discomfort ​is ​necessary. ​And ​I ​think ​that ​we ​haven't ​stopped ​to ​consider ​what ​necessity ​means ​to ​us. ​I'm ​not ​adding ​things ​to ​my ​plate ​for ​no ​reason. ​There ​has ​to ​be ​a ​reason. ​And ​the ​reason ​needs ​to ​be ​specific. ​It ​has ​to ​feel ​necessary.”

“You're ​oftentimes ​​fighting to ​create ​more ​equity ​in ​the ​world. ​You're ​pushing ​so ​hard ​and ​overextending ​yourself ​for ​the ​people ​that ​you ​are ​making ​a ​way ​for. ​Your ​employees, ​your ​team, ​your ​mentees, ​​whoever ​it ​is ​that ​you ​are ​trying ​to ​blaze ​the ​trail ​for ​or ​with. ​A ​big ​part ​of ​the ​mission ​oftentimes ​is ​to ​create ​more ​equity ​for ​them, ​for ​them ​to ​have experiences ​where ​there ​is ​more ​given ​to ​them ​than ​was ​given ​to ​you. Where ​they ​get ​to ​experience ​a ​reciprocal ​relationship ​within ​these ​crazy ​systems ​that ​they ​have ​to ​operate ​in ​and ​navigate ​and ​build, ​within and ​yet ​we ​won't ​expect ​that ​for ​ourselves. ​​It's ​like​ you're ​trying ​to ​give ​the ​thing ​that ​you ​are ​not ​willing ​to ​give ​to ​yourself. ​And ​I ​want ​you ​to ​know ​that ​that ​comes ​at ​a ​cost, ​not ​just ​to ​you, ​but ​for ​those ​who ​are ​watching. ​Because ​you're ​not ​setting ​the ​example ​you ​think ​that ​you ​are. ​​When ​you ​are ​living ​a ​life ​that ​​is ​​feeling ​lopsided, ​other ​folks ​can ​see ​that. We ​have ​to ​give ​ourselves ​permission ​to ​exist ​in ​what ​it ​is ​that ​we're ​trying ​to ​create ​for ​others ​to ​not ​leave ​ourselves ​out ​of ​our ​own ​vision.”

“You ​need ​to ​know ​what ​your ​values ​are.​ I ​think ​a ​lot ​of ​us ​have loosely ​articulated ​vague ​values ​that ​are ​really ​just ​a ​set ​of ​feelings ​that ​we've ​never ​actually ​taken ​the ​time ​to ​do ​the ​work ​on, ​to ​truly ​be ​precise ​about, ​to ​be ​specific ​about.”

“My ​values ​coupled ​with ​​my ​mind, ​body, ​connection, ​and my ​gut feeling ​help ​me ​decide ​​what ​I ​choose ​to ​say ​yes ​to ​versus ​what ​I ​don't. And ​we ​all ​need ​these. ​And ​I ​will ​also ​say ​that ​getting intentional practice around connecting ​the ​two, ​using ​them ​in ​real ​life ​situations, it ​deepens ​our ​conviction. ​It ​makes ​it ​much ​easier ​to step ​into ​whatever ​season ​of ​life ​or ​work that ​is ​ahead ​of ​us ​with ​a ​lot ​more ​confidence ​and ​speed, ​honestly.”

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Are you feeling ungrounded or disconnected from your true self? Our latest episode takes you on a transformative journey of self-discovery through therapy, journaling, and meditation.

Join Monique as she takes us on an unscripted journey, sharing raw and real insights fresh from a therapy session, where the realization dawned that the key to feeling grounded lies in embracing our past and present selves.

Through insightful reflections and a powerful grounding exercise experienced at a recent retreat, Monique challenges the notion of productivity-driven meditation and journaling, advocating instead for a return to the simple, joyful practices of being in nature and embracing the present moment.

This episode is a heartfelt call to action for those feeling detached from their inner selves, offering a fresh perspective on finding balance between our adult responsibilities and the wisdom of our inner child.

Tune in now to explore your own relationship with stillness, play, and the simple pleasures of life.

MENTIONED
Spelman College
Barnes and Noble

GEMS DROPPED
“Sometimes ​you're ​in ​a ​moment, ​you're ​having ​realizations,in real ​time, and ​trying ​to ​architect,organize, and ​package ​it ​is ​just ​going ​to ​kind ​of ​ruin ​it. ​And ​it ​just ​needs ​to ​be ​raw, ​it ​needs ​to ​be ​real.”

“The ​thing ​is ​never ​the ​thing ​y'all. ​There's ​something ​that's ​running ​beneath ​it ​that ​is ​keeping you ​from ​doing ​whatever ​activity ​or ​habit ​or ​ritual ​or ​behavior ​it ​is ​that ​you ​want ​to ​exhibit ​or ​want ​to ​stop ​exhibiting. It's ​not ​about ​the ​behavior ​itself. ​It ​is ​about ​something ​else ​that ​is ​running ​beneath ​it.”

“I ​always ​had ​my ​diary. ​It ​was ​a ​companion ​and ​it ​was ​a ​way ​that, ​I ​not ​only ​just ​consolidated ​my ​thoughts ​or ​processed my ​emotions, ​but ​it ​was ​a ​way ​that ​I ​connected ​with ​myself. ​It ​was ​like ​a ​part ​of ​a ​relationship ​that ​I ​had ​with ​myself. ​It ​was ​a ​trusted ​anchor, ​​and ​an ​expression ​of ​my ​own ​rootedness.”

“The ​aspects ​of ​how ​journaling ​used ​to ​show ​up ​for ​me ​when ​I ​was ​younger and what ​was ​so ​grounding ​and ​beautiful ​about ​it ​was ​that ​there ​was ​no ​adult ​pressure. ​There ​was ​no ​pressure ​period ​on ​it.”

“For ​those ​of ​you ​who ​are ​craving stillness, who ​feel ​like ​the ​relationship ​that ​you ​once ​had ​with ​yourself, where ​there ​​was ​space ​for ​no ​strings ​attached, ​no ​pressure, ​no ​expectations, where ​you can ​just ​be ​and ​let ​your ​feelings ​flow. ​It's ​like ​you ​get ​to ​experience ​the ​fullness ​of ​yourself. ​To experience that again, make ​space ​for ​this ​other ​part ​of ​yourself, ​your inner child.”​

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Join Monique for an enlightening conversation with Tamyra Gordon as she shares her journey of intentional living, homeschooling and legacy building.

Tamyra, also known as Tammy, is a public historian whose work serves as a powerful reclamation of Black history, identity, and legacy. With over 18 years of experience in education, historic preservation, workforce development, and public programming, she is more than just an executive; she is a steward of ancestral stories.

Tune in as we explore Tamyra's path and learn how she continues to build and nurture her legacy with courage and heart. Her wisdom and experiences offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to live a life of purpose and impact.

GUEST INFO
Tamyra Gordon, former and founding Executive Director of Blavity.org and the current Founder of Your Legacy Tours | Website | Instagram (Tamyra) | Instagram (Legacy Tours) | Instagram (Greenwood Seneca) | LinkedIn

MENTIONED
Association of African American Museums

GEMS DROPPED
“There's ​something ​really ​special ​and ​important ​about ​recognizing ​that building ​a ​relationship ​with ​our ​little ​selves and our ​former ​selves.The ​different ​essence ​is ​the ​part ​that ​we ​get ​to ​reconnect ​with,celebrate ​and ​honor, ​but ​also ​giving ​room ​for ​the fact that our little ​nine ​year ​old ​selves will ​never ​exist ​exactly ​in ​the ​same ​format ​that ​she ​did ​back ​then. So ​even ​as ​we ​reimagine ​our ​younger ​selves ​now ​and ​engage ​with ​that ​essence ​and energy ​and ​help ​leverage ​it ​as ​best ​we ​can ​that she ​gets ​to ​grow ​and ​evolve ​and ​morph ​as ​we're ​growing, ​evolving, ​and ​morphing. ​It's ​not ​like ​this ​static ​thing. ​​I ​think ​that ​that's ​really ​important ​because ​that ​speaks ​to ​the ​beauty ​and ​the ​messiness ​of ​it ​all.” - Monique R. Shields

“Legacy is ​less ​about ​generational ​wealth ​and ​what's ​the ​hand ​down, ​and ​what ​are ​the ​things ​that ​we ​sort ​of ​get ​as ​part ​of ​being ​tied ​to ​someone ​else's ​legacy. ​Really, ​it's ​just ​like, ​are ​we ​leaving ​this ​place ​any ​better ​than ​we ​found ​it and ​​can ​the ​people ​who ​are ​left ​to ​tell ​our ​story ​actually ​articulate ​that? ​Did ​we ​live ​a ​life ​that ​our ​values, ​that ​our ​beliefs, ​that ​our ​actions are ​aligned ​to ​all ​those ​things ​that ​we ​said ​that ​we ​cared ​about? ​Did ​people ​feel ​better ​after ​being ​in ​my ​presence ​and ​being ​around ​me ​than they ​did ​not being ​around? ​​Did ​I ​honor ​people ​who ​would ​otherwise ​be ​forgotten and not let to work ​and ​other ​things ​sort ​of ​distract ​from ​those ​moments ​where ​you ​can ​pull ​in ​people ​into ​the ​fabric ​of ​how ​we ​live ​today. ​​In ​my ​mind, ​that's ​the ​legacy. That's ​how ​​​I'm ​thinking ​about ​it ​today. ​I'm ​also ​open ​to ​the ​idea ​of ​what ​that ​looks ​like ​continuing ​to ​mature ​and ​evolve ​with ​me ​and ​how ​I ​sort ​of ​see ​​the ​babies ​keeping ​and ​thinking ​about ​legacy, ​because ​that ​will ​also ​matter. But ​for ​right ​now, ​it's ​keeping ​things ​alive ​that ​I ​think ​matter ​at ​the ​end.” - Tamyra Gordon

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This episode is a delightful reflection on Monique's recent family trip to Australia and the valuable lessons she learned about balancing ambition with rest.

Monique takes us through her journey of stepping away from her solopreneur business to embrace a much-needed break, all while maintaining the essence of her work and personal life. She shares insights on how to create space in your life for rest and recovery, even when you're running a business that thrives on personal connections.

Monique also dives into the practices that have enabled her to take extended breaks without compromising her business. She discusses the importance of viewing rest as an asset, studying your own rhythms, setting a vision and plan, and getting the right support. For anyone contemplating a sabbatical, a big trip, or simply more spaciousness in their daily life, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiration.

Press play now to discover how to integrate rest into your entrepreneurial journey and emerge with renewed energy and clarity.

MENTIONED
42 | Committing To Success That Heals You With Marla Teyolia

GEMS DROPPED
“You ​have ​to ​decide ​that ​rest ​is ​an ​asset ​and ​not ​a ​liability.”

“We ​have ​to ​acknowledge ​that ​something ​is ​not ​congruent ​and ​that ​we ​actually ​have ​to ​step ​into ​a ​true ​valuing ​of ​rest, ​of ​space, ​not ​with ​the ​deep ​undercurrent ​of ​guilt ​that ​comes ​along ​with ​not ​constantly ​being ​productive. ​We ​have ​to ​see ​the ​relationship, ​like, ​truly ​feel ​the ​relationship ​between ​rest ​and ​productivity ​as ​one ​that ​is ​harmonious.”

“Conceptually, ​it's ​easy ​to ​understand ​that ​rest ​is ​good ​for ​you, but ​my ​behaviors ​over ​time ​are ​not ​necessarily ​lining ​up ​with ​that ​understanding. ​So ​I ​want ​to ​shift ​us ​from ​understanding ​to ​belief.”

“We ​are ​wrapped ​up ​in ​so ​many ​systems ​that ​tell ​us ​that ​if ​we ​ever ​stop ​moving, ​that ​we ​will ​be ​overtaken ​and ​destitute ​and ​just ​out ​of ​the ​game, ​​that ​we ​will ​be ​fighting ​for ​our ​lives ​to ​feed ​ourselves ​and ​to ​be ​relevant. ​No ​matter ​how ​much ​money ​you ​have ​that ​track ​can ​be ​running ​in ​the ​background ​still pushing ​you ​to ​do ​more ​than ​what ​you ​need ​to ​be ​doing. ​And ​so ​I ​don't ​mean ​to in ​any ​way ​make ​light ​of ​this, ​but ​we ​have ​to ​kind ​of ​get ​real ​with ​how ridiculous ​it ​actually ​is ​and ​that ​it ​is ​not ​a ​narrative ​of ​our ​making. ​It ​is ​a ​narrative ​driven ​purely ​out ​of capitalism.”

“I'd ​given ​myself ​over ​to ​this ​season ​of ​rest, ​and ​it ​gave ​me ​the ​proof ​after ​going ​through ​that, ​that ​abundance ​can ​be ​possible ​for ​you ​when ​you ​treat ​yourself ​abundantly.When ​you ​treat ​yourself ​with ​scarcity, you ​cannot ​be ​surprised ​when ​your ​results ​are ​scarce.“

“We ​cannot ​always ​be ​sowing ​seeds. ​Sometimes ​we ​need ​time ​for ​the ​stuff ​to ​grow. ​Sometimes ​we ​need ​time ​for ​the ​stuff ​to ​wilt ​and ​die so ​that ​it ​has ​the ​energy ​to regrow in ​a ​new ​season. ​You ​cannot ​always ​be ​on, ​you ​cannot ​always ​be ​doing, ​you ​cannot ​always ​be ​giving ​because ​​you're ​going ​to ​reap ​really ​weak crops ​or ​it'll ​be ​the ​wrong ​crop.”

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Are you navigating a season of change? This episode is here to provide inspiration and guidance.

Join in as Monique revisits a transformative period in her life, reflecting on a throwback episode from her earlier audio newsletter series, "Letters from Monique." She shares insights from her journey of allowing herself to be changed, especially during significant life transitions like the birth of her second child and the early seeds of this very podcast. She also emphasizes the importance of allowing oneself to be changed, the power of community, and the necessity of support and presence.

Monique dives deep into the messy and beautiful process of change, offering a raw and honest account of her experiences. Whether you're in a season of transition or just seeking inspiration to embrace change, this episode is dropping gems.

So, grab your tea, journal, and a cozy spot as Monique takes you on a journey through personal evolution, resilience, and the beauty of embracing change. Enjoy, and may this episode meet you exactly where you need to be met.

GEMS DROPPED

“You ​can't ​want ​change ​without ​permitting ​yourself ​to ​be ​changed.”

“Our ​thoughts ​are ​anchored ​upon ​ ​the ​changes ​that ​we ​get ​to ​experience ​externally, but ​what ​has ​to ​happen ​internally ​we undersell, ​we ​undershoot, ​and ​oftentimes, we ​don't ​fully ​anticipate ​because ​it's ​something ​that's ​new. So ​you're ​not really ​able ​to ​preemptively anticipate ​what ​those ​internal ​changers ​are. So ​to ​be ​changed ​is ​something ​that is ​easy ​to ​struggle ​with.”

“We ​want ​the ​external ​product ​of ​change, we ​want ​the ​external ​experiences ​of ​change, but ​it's ​not ​all ​upside ​to ​get ​there. ​​It ​can't ​be. There ​has ​to ​be ​some pain. ​And ​I'm ​not ​gonna ​say, ​full ​on ​suffering, ​necessarily, but ​pain, ​loss, ​absolutely. ​And ​this ​comes ​with ​any ​kind ​of ​change.”

“When ​we ​ask ​for ​change ​be ​ready ​for ​everything ​that ​comes ​with ​that, ​but ​also ​recognize ​the ​beauty ​in ​it.”

“Permitting ​ourselves ​to ​be ​changed ​is ​to ​​permit ​ourselves ​to ​have ​permission ​to ​change, ​to ​have ​permission ​to ​create ​in ​the ​midst ​of ​change, ​to ​have ​permission ​to ​re​envision, ​to ​pivot, ​to ​shift, ​to ​reimagine, ​to ​want ​differently. And ​it ​requires ​support. ​I ​think ​for ​most ​of ​us, ​particularly ​so ​for ​women, ​we ​are ​so ​practiced ​at ​not permitting ​ourselves to ​want, ​to ​create,​to ​build ​freely, ​ ​unapologetically, ​and ​inviting ​in ​the ​support ​to ​do ​that. ​And ​not ​even ​the ​support ​to ​do ​that, ​but ​also ​just ​making ​sure ​that we are ​part ​of ​​communities ​where ​that ​was ​heralded ​and ​encouraged ​and ​modeled. It ​means ​everything.”

“It ​is ​very ​easy ​to ​scale ​back ​on ​our ​self ​investments ​when ​we ​think ​we ​can't ​produce ​as ​much, ​or ​we ​think ​that, ​like, ​oh, ​I'm ​stepping ​into ​a ​season ​of ​less. ​So ​then ​we ​start ​giving ​ourselves ​less. ​Girl, ​you're ​doing ​the ​opposite ​of ​what ​needs ​to ​happen. This ​is ​a ​season ​where ​we ​give ​ourselves ​more,much, ​much ​more.”

“If ​you ​want ​change, ​you ​have ​to ​permit ​myself ​to ​be ​changed. ​So ​ask yourself, what ​needs ​to ​be ​true ​in ​this ​next ​season ​in ​order ​for ​you ​to ​get ​prepared ​for ​that ​season​? There's ​a ​new ​version ​of ​you ​that ​is ​waiting.”​

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.