A lifestyle podcast that discusses topics such as: Nutrition, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle and how they're all impacted by Mindset.
Guess who's back?!
Today I talk about MOMENTUM and IMPACT. MY 2024 goal is to take action that makes an impact on my goals, and that ain't happening if I keep procrastinating on getting this content out there.
So here we are. Here's to consistency and building momentum to take IMPACTFUL ACTION.
I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today Im sharing my experience with The Abundance Book.
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday...Life has been busy, but I wanted to keep my commitment to myself and publish an episode. This rewind episode feels perfect for where I am right now. I hope this resonates with someone struggling to trust themselves or have discipline as we move into the end of the year.
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing the excerpt from Chapter 2 in Three Magic Words by U.S. Andersen. This helped me take a more objective approach when thinking about good/bad and right/wrong. I know it's radical, so if it doesn't resonate with you, thats ok. We can disagree and I still love you.
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm sharing some of my experience with perfection. You may want to listen to this one on 1.25 or 1.5 speed lol.
Love ya,
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about the power of setting intentions!
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today, we're talking about the CliftonStrengths assessment formerly known as the Gallup StrengthsFinder.
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. This week I'm fired up after hearing some discord on TikTok around Monoracial VS Biracial.
Below are a number of articles and papers I reference in this episode. I wish there was more time to really have more of a conversation around this. So I'm fully open to any commentary outside of the podcast world and even the possibility to have more of a conversation on the podcast with others.
Ok, love you. Bye!
Ashley
Resources:
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/beyond-blackness-and-whiteness-activists-of-mixed-race-speak-out/
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1577&context=mcnair
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/editorial-biracial-time-black-lives-matter-n466801
https://academic.oup.com/book/4756/chapter/147006958
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today im sharing a bit of my experience with friendships and sharing four of my takeaways for this topic.
Takeaways:
Love you!
Ash
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm feeling really nostalgic after my 20 year high school reunion and I got some thangs to say!
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm sharing with you some recent events that had me questioning what I want for my future. Im still in the process of deconstructing from corporate indoctrination lol.
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! This was an unplanned, random stream of consciousness in the wake of a lot of self-reflection and excavation...stick with me here lol.
Love you, bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about finding our own version of activism in a world of social issues.
Below are the links to articles I referred to in the episode as well as information about the best organization in Buffalo...Buffalo Prep.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-rally-around-some-social-issues-and-not-others/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21565503.2021.1906285?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/06/14/support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement-has-dropped-considerably-from-its-peak-in-2020/
https://helpfulprofessor.com/social-issues-examples/#:~:text=Social%20issues%20refer%20to%20those,What%20is%20this%3F
https://www.BuffaloPrep.com
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Thank you for understanding my hiatus last week, but we back! Today we're talking about what I'll be focusing on in the next 6 months before the new year.
Thank you for being here.
Love you!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're celebrating my birthday with some of the lessons I've learned along the way.
My challenge to each of you is to start a list like this of your own. I'm going to get serious about writing them down for me and plan to share these every year on my birthday.
For my birthday I have one BIG ask for all of you...please share this podcast or your favorite episode on your social media. This will help me reach new listeners and grow the podcast.
Ok friends...until next week.
Love you, bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring it Out Friday. Today I'm doing my level best to be objective when talking about what is actually considered political.
Stay tuned for more on this in a later episode.
Ok, love you bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to figuring it out Friday. Today we're talking about how all of us are feeling the sting of COVID in our social situations. I don't know about you, but ya girl is socially awkward as it is and COVID kinda just made it worse.
Linked Articles:
Love you! Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today Im sharing a little about my Values journey along with what values are and why they are important.
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about some of the unique challenges us millennials face being the new adults.
Hard to believe we're the ones paving the way for the next generation, but as you'll hear in this episode...we're not doing too bad.
Some topics we discuss in this episode are:
Finally, from one millennial to another...I hope you can listen to this and feel proud of yourself. Proud of what you've lived and learned through as well as proud of what you've accomplished. Have grace with yourself because we got it honest.
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about personality type assessments. I share with you 6 popular assessments and dig deeper into the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator as well as the Enneagram - which happen to be my two favorites.
Throughout the episode we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of personality type testing and I share how I was on the receiving end of one of the drawbacks.
If you want to learn more about MBTI or Enneagram, check out the links below!
MBTI Resources:
https://www.mbtionline.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjryjBhD0ARIsAMLvnF_9eT5v-6F1d3-9W0Vv7ERfHwi-2ppsoCqG5JgtQ4sRTYY2tZX5JHwaArkEEALw_wcB
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
Enneagram Resources:
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions
https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test
I hope this gave you new insights to personality assessments. If you want to learn more, don't hesitate to reach out!
Love you! Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about why we worry about what other people think about us and how we can overcome the worry.
Below are the links to the articles referenced in today's episode:
https://psychcentral.com/blog/mental-shifts-to-stop-caring-what-people-think-of-you
https://williamsburgtherapygroup.com/blog/why-do-i-care-so-much-what-other-people-think#:~:text=Humans%20are%2C%20by%20nature%2C%20social,as%20old%20as%20humanity%20itself.
Before I let you go...If you take nothing away from this episode, I hope you understand that WE GET TO DECIDE for ourselves who and what matters and people can either get on board or get off. Simple as that.
Ok, Love you...Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about a new process I started using to discern what is supporting me in reaching my personal goals and what isn't.
If you don't take away anything from today's episode, I hope you take away this:
"TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, SPIT OUT THE SEEDS." - Ashley Middleton (Yea, I'm claiming that!)
Love you!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today is a random stream of consciousness about the self-help industry and self-help books.
Welcome back to Figuring it Out Friday! This week i'm sharing my journey in my relationship with God, Universe, Source.
I know religion can be a touchy subject. However, I understand this journey is deeply personal and I know people will disagree with what I have to say...and that's ok. We can co-exist because truth is...there is no one truth.
The 3 things I chose to share today are by no means an exhaustive list. This is just 3 of many things I've figured out along the way. I plan on sharing more in future episodes. But here are some books you can check out if you feel called:
A Course in Miracles
Three Magic Words
Conversations with God
Love you, bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring it out Friday. In the wake of 16 year old Ralph Yarl being shot by and 84 year old man for being at the wrong house to pick up his twin brothers, we're talking about the paradox of peace being Black in America.
Is Peace attainable?
Sometimes, I wonder myself.
Ash
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm sharing about an experience I had hiking up Manitou Incline in Colorado and what that has to do with celebrating our 20 episode milestone!
I hope this resonates with you, and if it does share it with a friend, family member or follower. Also...if you feel moved, I'd love to hear how the podcast has impacted you in a review. I'll be reading a review a week on the podcast and I'd love to read one of yours!
Ok, Love you...Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring it Out Friday. Today we are talking about something I'm working through IN REAL TIME.
Feelings of Unworthiness.
This came up after an impromptu visit to Canada and honestly...i have no tips for this one because I'm still working through the feelings.
I hope this resonates, and as soon as I figure it out...you'll be the first to know.
Love you,
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm talking about my journey in figuring out both fitness and nutrition.
Spoiler alert: please do what works for you and your body. Nutrition is so individualistic.
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm talking about what it means to be a Multipotentialite or Multi-Passionate Person.
Resources:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing a little sneak peak of my Interview Workshop that will be available through The Middleton Center, Inc.
Today I go through 3 topics that I share in the workshop I believe are extremely impactful.
Stay tuned for when the interview workshop webinar drops so you can stay ready so you don't have to get ready!
Topics:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing, in real time, the lessons I'm learning while actually building a business. Run this back if you need some encouragement and a reminder that you're already qualified….your probably OVER-qualified…but…baby steps.
Lessons Learned:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing with you my top 3 lessons I've learned as a leader in corporate and giving you some book recommendations you can use on your leadership journey.
Lessons Learned:
Books to Read:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about my natural hair journey!
Lessons Learned:
Follow me @FiguringItOutFriday and @AshleyShontea for pictures throughout my curly hair journey!
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. My goal with this podcast is to share so authentically that it resonates with everyone its supposed to. But sometimes when we share so personally, we get self-conscious and question ourselves, out ability and if we should keep going. This is me actively working through that feeling.
What I'm figuring out:
"Dance like no one is watching" - Mark Twain
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're jumping back into my fertility journey with Part 2.
Again…This is a triggering subject. So if you're on this journey, I hope you're doing what you can to prioritize your health and happiness first.
Your joy comes first and don’t ever allow anyone to make you feel bad about being selfish.
Sending you all the love along the way.
Lessons Learned:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. This week I'm sharing my thoughts in the wake of Tyre Nichols death and the release of the body cam footage.
Takeaways For White People:
Takeaways for Black People:
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost, almost all of the time - and in one's work. And part of the rage is this: It isn't only what is happening to you. But it's what's happening all around you and all of the time in the face of the most extraordinary and criminal indifference, indifference of most white people in this country, and their ignorance. Now, since this is so, it's a great temptation to simplify the issues under the illusion that if you simplify them enough, people will recognize them. I think this illusion is very dangerous because, in fact, it isn't the way it works. A complex thing can't be made simple. You simply have to try to deal with it in all its complexity and hope to get that complexity across." - James Baldwin
Love you,
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about Figuring Out Fertility...The Early Years. II'll be sharing what life was like when I first got my period and the signs my body was sending me that something needed to change early on. 'll also be sprinkling in some lessons that I've learned along the way.
Before we get into it…I know this is a difficult subject. So if you find yourself on this journey, I hope you are doing what you can to prioritize your health and happiness first.
Your joy comes first and don’t ever allow anyone to make you feel bad about being selfish.
Sending you all the love along the way.
Lessons Learned:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm getting you caught up on my Life After Layoff now that I've had some time I figure some things out.
Stay tuned for some big things to come from The Middleton Center, LLC!
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out. Today we're talking about my strategy to deal with Major Life Events.
My Strategy:
Notable Quotes:
"Between Stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our Response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor Frankl
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"It's ALL good, but then there is that which we prefer" - Abraham Hicks
Article Links:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm getting real about trusting myself.
Key Points:
How am I doing this?:
Notable Quotes:
"Internet kill the library card" - Ashley Middleton hahaha
"The way you do one thing is the way you do everything" - Anonymous
Happy New Year! Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about creating sustainable change in the new year and I'll leave you with my top 3 takeaways to consider in your own journey to figuring out how to create an effective runway this last week of the year
Key Points:
Readiness Continuum:
Journal Prompts:
Final Take Aways:
Resource Links:
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out. Today we're talking about Figuring Out Debt Freedom and I'll leave you with my top 3 takeaways to consider in your own journey to figuring out...
Spoiler Alert: There is no one size fits all!
Key Points:
DR Baby Steps
Notable Quotes:
"Take what you need, spit out the seeds" - Me
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about Life after Layoffs and I'll leave you with my top 3 final thoughts to consider in your own journey to Figuring It Out.
Evaluate your:
Take Aways/Final Thoughts:
Notable Quotes:
"Evaluated Experience leads to growth" - John C Maxwell
Love you, Bye!
Ashley
Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about my journey in figuring out my career and I'll leave you with my top 3 takeaways to consider in your own journey to figuring out what you want to be when you grow up.Spoiler Alert: We're all figuring it out. None of us know what we're doing. Key Points: College Career Climbing the Ladder What Changed? Defining Success Take AwaysTakeAways: Attach yourself to a mission and not a job Know your numbers You don’t have to have it all figured outNotable Quotes: "What is you decided to love yourself enough to slow down…even just a little bit more. What if you decided to love yourself enough to give up proving yourself to the world? What is success if not remembering what you already have" - Anonymous""You can't connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever." - Steve JobsLove you, Bye!Ashley
Welcome to #FigureItOutFridays ... We may not have all the answers or get things right the first (or second haha) time ... AND THATS OK! Let's figure out this thing called life together one step at a time.
With Love,
Ashley Shontea
One of the things I struggled with as I was beginning my personal wellness journey has been moving away from the cultural traditions that are encompassed in the food we eat as Black people. It was hard. Especially when family didn't completely understand.
I LOVE my culture. I LOVE my people and I would be remiss if I didn't speak on the issues that plague our community when it comes to our nutrition and wellness.
I love us so much to talk about the hard things because we are worthy of living our best most healthy and happy lives. But first we have to recognize that so much of the things we experience with our health are effects of a lifestyle our ancestors were forced to live.
We are not there anymore. We have access to more information, more resources and we have an opportunity to shift the health of our community for generations.
So if you are part of the Black community or love someone that is...or just even want to educate yourself on the issues that impact Black Americans to better understand and learn...jump in and take a listen, i'll be here all month discussing these topics.
Love youuu!
You know the rest...Prevents Poor Performance.
But preparation is key when it comes to creating sustainable change on your wellness journey.
Today I'm sharing 6 tips that will help you stay ready so you don't have to get ready.
Love you,
Ashley
Today on the pod we're talking about how the thing that we push against the most is usually the very thing that will propel us forward.
I've talked about this on an IG post a while back specifically related to fear and how our minds relate "sameness" to safety.
Let's call BS on that today...okay?!
2 Major quotes to take away from todays pod:
"We stay much longer than we should because the discomfort of change is FAR greater than the reality of staying the same."
"Take your full power back and be the person that DECIDES to do something different & recognizes that if nothing changes, NOTHING changes.'
I love you so much! Have a great week!
-Ashley
Who is up for some radical candor?! If you don't know, that is a book that made a pretty big impact on me and my ability to lead from a place of accountability.
Today we are talking about the concept of Accountability. I think people are in love with the idea of it, but not the full on action of it. Like...Do i REALLY have to take accountability for this thing that I hate in my life?!
YES...Yes you do!
No one is going to do it for you.
I drop some big gems in the pod, so if you want some more...click the link and let's go!
I love you so much ... and when I say that, I mean it. Because I love you enough to not let you sit in your shit...Get up and get to work.
I took some time to get back to me and figure things out and now it's...Game Time!
Sundays are for reflection and this morning It was clear that I THRIVE when I'm sharing the principles and ideas that have supported me through my toughest moments. By nature, I'm an internal processor, but the act of verbally communicating the work I'm doing behind the scenes serve as reminders for me to keep moving...keep putting one foot in front of the other and don't let the information just sit in my head.
In today's Sunday Session - I'm sharing the first of what I call my "Foundational Principles". I fall back on these principles when I find myself in a difficult situation. Some of them have become my core values and that I live by.
E + R = O
I also share a bit about the Circle of Influence and how these are closely related.
The catalyst to today's episode came from The Daily Stoic. If you are looking for a great inner-focused daily reader, that is my best recommendation.
As always, let me know what resonated with you from today's pod and if you know someone that will benefit from this message, pass it along.
I love you so much!
This week begins our deep dive into the hormones that have a major impact on our health journey as women. It's almost impossible to talk about healthy living without including conversation around hormonal balance. Your hormones are the things that send signals throughout your body to ensure it is operating as it should, and when those are not in optimum range, you will experience some deterioration in your health. So let's begin by understanding them so we can do something about it!
First up we have: Estrogen
I want to support you on your journey in understanding this for yourself. So some references that I used in drafting this podcast are listed below.
Enjoy!
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277177
https://us.viveve.com/insulin-resistance-and-the-hormone-connection/
https://www.metagenicsinstitute.com/ce-education/science-sheets/estrogen-metabolism/#:~:text=The%20metabolism%20of%20estrogen%20takes,and%20excreted%20from%20the%20body.
This week on the pod we are talking about Aunt Flo! But not just our period...we're talking about the 4 phases of your menstrual cycle and how you can work with your hormones rather than working against them.
This episode serves as an introduction to these phases as there is SO MUCH information out there that we will be digging into.
My hope is that this is the starting point for your research in understanding your cycle that much better to help you understand why things are happening the way they do each month. When we know better, we can do better.
Some references I used when researching for this pod:
Fifth Vital Sign: Master your Cycle and Optimize your Fertility - Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
Do Less - Kate Northrup
Dr Mark Hyman
ENJOY!
Let's talk about supplements and my take on what are the 4 most important things you absolutely should be supplementing on your nutrition journey.
Hey Hey! Welcome back. Today we dive into Plant-Based living, what it is and what it's NOT. I also share a few benefits of living a plant-based lifestyle.
As always, leave a review if this served you and share with someone you love!
With Love,
Ashley
Ok Ok Ok...That title has been playing in my head over and over. But today we're talking about what's going to keep you motivated and engaged on your nutrition journey. And spoiler alert...IT'S NOT THE NUMBER ON THE SCALE!
How do you want to FEEL in the end or along this journey. THAT'S the goal.
I love you so much!
Ashley Shontea
Today we dive into my top 5 Inflammatory Foods, but I also don't want to leave you hanging - So I added a few ANTI-Inflammatory foods to help you get started on your journey.
Welcome to Season 1, Episode 1 of A Simply Middspired Life. In this episode I share with you what this podcast will be about. We're going to talk about my methodology around Nutrition, Career, Fitness, and how all of that is impacted by a strong mindset but more importantly, by being true to your authentic self.
My goal as a Nutrition, Whole Life Coach is to support you in finding what works best FOR YOU. We focus on feeling here and i support you in being able to discern what works and what doesn't. I want my friends, family members and clients to leave feeling like they can attack any situation being their most authentic self.
Each season we will be diving into specific subjects and talking with friends who decided to live inspired when it comes to their health. Season 1 is all about Nutrition!
Thank you for joining us and as always: Keep your eyes, ears and heart fully open. I love you!