The Highly Unlikely Podcast with Lavena Perry: Recent Episodes
Lavena Perry
How you view and interact with the world has a monumental impact on the trajectory of your life.
This week's episode is all about shaping and shifting your prospect to align with the life you are trying to build and the person you want to be.
In this episode:
- What is perspective? 1:23
- How your perspective impacts your life 2:21
- Figuring out where you need to adjust 5:29
- Strategies for finding a new perspective 8:38
- Leaning into your community 18:16
Resources:Episode 46: The Secret To Lasting ChangeEpisode 45: Building a Community
Find me on Social Media:
👉🏼 Instagram: https://instagram.com/solo_stitching
👉🏼 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solo_stitching
👉🏼 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LavenaPerry
👉🏼 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/solostitching
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
It’s easy to show up for the people in your life, but it can feel impossible to show up for yourself in meaningful ways.
This week’s episode is all about making changes in your life to better care for yourself so that you can show up as the best version of yourself for the people you love.
In this episode:
- I made a huge decision that radically changed my life 2:36
- Making the right decision is rarely the easy decision 4:59
- Why is it so hard to love yourself? 9:39
- Love yourself by getting clear about what you want 11:05
- If caring for yourself is so important, why don't you do it? 11:50
- Why you need to make yourself a priority 15:17
- Balance 15:52
- Make caring for yourself a priority; it's essential 17:17
Find me on Social Media:
👉🏼 Instagram: https://instagram.com/solo_stitching
👉🏼 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solo_stitching
👉🏼 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LavenaPerry
👉🏼 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/solostitching
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
Seeing big, positive changes in your life is SUPER EXCITING!
But what if you don’t?
What if you have been working consistently to transform your life, and you don’t see any real progress?
This week's episode is all about atomic growth and how to make lasting changes that lead to transformational growth in your life.
In this episode:
- What is atomic growth? 1:21
- How making atomic changes impacts your life 4:54
- Re-writing the operating system in your brain 7:12
- Using existing routines as building blocks for growth 8:57
- Tapping into things you love to enact change 14:33
- Speaking your way to transformation 19:19
Resources:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=asc_df_0735211299/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312014159412&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6812157477633912573&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014472&hvtargid=pla-541463258824&psc=1
Find me on Social Media:
👉🏼 Instagram: https://instagram.com/solo_stitching
👉🏼 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solo_stitching
👉🏼 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LavenaPerry
👉🏼 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/solostitching
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
The last few years have been challenging in more ways than we recognized, and the lasting changes to our communities have become apparent to many people.
Despite all the changes, our need for community has not diminished. Today's episode dives into the impacts of the loss of community, and how we move forward from here to repair and build these essential communities in a post-pandemic world.
In Today's Episode:
- Hiking alone went very wrong 1:30
- How the last couple of years have left us stranded and alone 5:18
- The importance of community for our health & well-being 6:57
- The Forest Ranger that saved my life 10:52
- Finding the community that's right for you 12:39
- Building a community in a digital world 14:29
- Getting back to in-person socializing 16:29
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7585135/
https://www.lhsdoi.com/20712/showcase/searching-how-psychology-explains-our-need-for-community/
https://www.happiness.com/magazine/relationships/the-importance-of-community/
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
It goes without saying life is hard sometimes...the challenges can feel overwhelming. And when we are in the midst of chaos, happiness and peace can feel like an impossible dream.
Today's episode focuses on strategies to hang onto your happiness amid life's storms.Â
I talk about:
- Rediscovering wisdom from my past self 1:30
- Sad lyrics with a very happy tune 3:19
- Gratitude is more than a platitude, it's a strategy for joy & peace 8:03
- Community is essential 14:03
- Boundaries create space to practice self-care 18:51
- Journaling to give your emotions a voice 28:46
- Summary 32:47
Find me on social media:
👉🏼 Instagram- https://instagram.com/solo_stitchingÂ
👉🏼 YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/LavenaPerryÂ
👉🏼 TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@solo_stitchingÂ
👉🏼 Pinterest- https://pinterest.com/solostitchingÂ
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
Enacting change in your life isn't about how the world sees you; it is about how you see and interact with the world. This is YOUR journey.
Today's episode is all about your transformation journey. I will talk about what personal transformation is, whether or not it's possible, how to get started, and the keys to success.
I talk about:
- How real change takes place 4:52
- Not being defined by your past choices 5:52
- Foundations are so important 9:15
- The motivation behind your desire to change 15:50
- The importance of starting over 17:59
- The benefits of tracking growth 20:54
- Key takeaways 25:16
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
Anytime you are working on a goal or trying to change things in your life, you are bound to face some sort of discouragement along the way.
This episode of The Highly Unlikely Podcast is all about strategies to overcome discouragement, find support, and keep yourself motivated to move forward.
In this episode:
- Experiencing discouragement is inevitable 2:19
- Where discouragement comes from 5:05
- Gathering information to succeed 7:07
- Finding Guidance 9:58
- Building a community 12:19
- Gaining a new perspective 14:28
- Take a hot five to re-evaluate 18:24
Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the many women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
Today I am sharing about one of the daily practices that I feel passionately about because of its power to change lives.
In this episode:
- The term being mindful and present sounds nice, but what does it mean?
- Why a mindfulness practice is so important
- Getting started in your own mindfulness practice
Get your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health:
https://solostitching.ck.page/69790af1ce
Links:
https://www.milesformigraine.org/the-mind-body-connection-managing-migraine/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmdGYBhDRARIsABmSEeMnYn5hQWB0mwMMLsznp44A_9BrLO2w2hVZu9KWahUeI_lPxR3Dqt4aAtEzEALw_wcB
https://www.vailhealthbh.org/get-help-now/mindfulness?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmdGYBhDRARIsABmSEePYj8BPz0uGdnJ0aCc_mjy804JUeHq9JIPPRcerQ0TYAF0eXvy3_UMaAmG1EALw_wcB
If you have ever felt down on yourself for not being where you feel like you should be, or you're not able to get the things done that you need and want to, this is the episode for you!
I am sharing an essential life lesson that I was reminded of when I had a day that went completely off the rails, which created an opportunity I wasn't expecting.
- One decision that spiraled out of control 1:29
- The opportunity that turned things around 4:30
- The reminder of what's important 7:19
Are you a crocheter like me? Crochet and Self-Care are like peanut butter and chocolate. They are both good, but together they are AWESOME! Get your FREE download of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet For Your Mental Health now and get started today using crochet as a creative outlet to improve your mental health, have fun, and come away feeling renewed & revitalized.
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There's an important conversation we need to have about what it means to be selfless. Â
In today's episode, you will have the opportunity to examine your perspective on selflessness and see if you are bringing your best self to the relationships that matter to you.
- A troubling conversation 1:46
- What is selflessness? 3:34
- What it looks like to invest time and energy in yourself 4:47
- An essential conversation about your health 6:45
- A new direction and exciting future 9:22
The start of the new year is a time when many of us like to look at the year ahead and decide what habits we want to work on and the goals we want to achieve.
Making the goals is the easy part. Sticking to them and creating lasting habits and positive change is the struggle.
In today’s episode, I will give you three actionable strategies you can use to make habits stick and bring positive and lasting change to your life.
I talk about:
- How to work new habits into your busy schedule
- The importance of small changes
- Keeping track of progress
- How to motivate yourself when you’re feeling discouraged
- The most powerful tool in your arsenal
Resources:
Get Your Money Right
Building a Routine
Unlock Your Confidence
Happiness is something many of us seek. You might think you are simply an unhappy person, but it's simply not true! You have the power to control the level of happiness in your life, but you need to stop doing some key things to make that happen.
In today's episode, I am going to share 5 things you need to stop doing that will increase your happiness!
I talk about...
- Where to focus your time and energy
- The danger of comparison
- The needs of others
- Waiting to pursue your dreams
- Banishing negativity
We all go through periods of time where we struggle with motivation and feel like it's impossible to move forward. It can be frustrating! And the more frustrated you get, the more difficult it becomes to keep going through the motions and doing any work towards your goals. What do you do? How do you snap yourself out of it and start feeling energized and motivated again?
Today I am going to give you five actionable steps you can take to find your mojo again and get back to doing the things you feel passionately about!
I talk about...
- The importance of acknowledgment
- Getting it all out
- Moving your way to success
- Regaining focus and traction
- Shifting your mindset
Resources...
https://ahighlyunlikelylife.com/2021/09/02/get-your-life-back-on-track-with-these-powerful-strategies/
https://ahighlyunlikelylife.com/2021/08/04/living-a-life-full-of-purpose/
Sometimes it feels impossible to get everything done! Even if you start off strong, you may find those simple things take longer than they should, or you get derailed by distractions. There are so many things that can get you off track and leave your to-do list undone.
I have had these same struggles! Today I am going to share my favorite tools for productivity, keeping everything organized, and getting more done in less time.
I talk about...
- Shortcuts to keep your fingers on the keyboard
- My favorite suite
- How to copy text off any screen
- A search bar to rule all search bars
- Effectively keeping notes so you don't lose them
- My favorite app that has changed the way I organize my life
Resources...
- Text Sniper: https://textsniper.app/
- PC alternatives to Text Sniper: Capture2Text and Textify
- Alfred: https://www.alfredapp.com/
- PC Alternatives to Alfred:
- Listary: https://www.listary.com/
- Cerebro App: https://cerebroapp.com/
- Notion: https://www.notion.so/
- Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=na-US-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-e-dr-1009892&utm_content=text-ad-none-any-DEV_c-CRE_524361298487-ADGP_Desk+|+BKWS+-+EXA+|+Txt+~+Google+Workspace+~+Core_Google+Workspace+Core-KWID_43700060153385061-kwd-346911454270&utm_term=KW_google workspace-ST_google+workspace&gclid=CjwKCAjw7fuJBhBdEiwA2lLMYW-9u5rkewtt6rVc5itpnhi9906ZW_PU2O7X3VQeFqH2q2cFDifLNhoC_3sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Losing a loved one is a difficult challenge. But parenting children through that same loss is even more challenging. It's difficult to know what to do or the best way to navigate your way through it because for almost everyone who deals with this challenge, it is the very first time, and they have no experience with it.
In today's episode, I will give you some basic strategies for parenting children through grief. Of course, no one likes to think these are strategies they will ever need, but if you or someone you know finds themselves thrust into this difficult role, it is essential for everyone involved to have some idea of how to navigate these difficult waters.
I talk about...
- The challenges of parenting children who are grieving
- The importance of talking about their loved one
- Getting professional help and what to look for
- Having rules and boundaries in a time of grief
- Allowing your child to grieve in their own way
- Accepting permanent change
- Showing up for your child
Resources...
Helping Children Deal With Grief
10 Ways to Help a Grieving Child
Helping A Child Cope With The Death Of A Parent
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Everyone makes mistakes and needs to correct course now and then! But sometimes you feel lost and don't know how to get back on track. This can lead to making more mistakes and creating a much bigger problem, or wasting precious time on a path you don't want to be on.
It's a normal but uncomfortable part of life.
Today's episode will give you some powerful strategies to make the necessary changes and keep yourself on course to see long-term change and success!
I talk about...
- Understanding why you have gotten off course
- The importance of re-focusing
- Setting yourself up for success
- Continuing to move forward despite setbacks
Running your own business is an incredible experience! From the freedom to work for yourself, having your own income, and the satisfaction of building something from the ground up, it is unlike any other work experience.
If you are thinking about starting down an entrepreneurial path, I applaud you!! But it can be a daunting journey if you don't know where to start or if you have what it takes to succeed. Today, I am going to go through the set of skills you need if you want to be successful at running your own business and tell you how to get started!
I talk about...
- The difference between starting a business and running a business
- Going out and getting what you want
- Finding the right team to help run your business
- Being a thought leader
- Steering the ship
- The key to developing relationships inside and outside your business
- The essential skills you need to be successful
Links...
Small Business Administration
Home | Denise Duffield Thomas | Money Mindset Mentor for Women
Follow me on social media:
Facebook:Â @ahighlyunlikelylife
Instagram: @ahighlyunlikelylife
Twitter: @a_highly
Pinterest: @highlyunlikelylife
TikTok: @ahighlyunlikelylife
Go to https://www.ahighlyunlikelylife.com for more!
I have been fighting a terrible (NOT COVID) cold...yes, they still exist! But I couldn't miss another week!
This week marks a difficult anniversary for my family and me. So today I will be sharing some thoughts on time, grief, and healing, with a message for those who are taking their own grief journey and those who are standing on the sidelines wondering how to support them.
I talk bout...
- The scars we carry
- The healing power of time
- How we protect ourselves from pain
- How to talk to people who are grieving
- Finding companions on your grief journey
- Lessons I learned from my own grief journey
Links...
https://time.com/5118994/advice-for-helping-grieving-friend/
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/helping-someone-who-is-grieving.htm
Sometimes in life, we become so focused on caring for other people and our roles in their lives that we put our own dreams and goals aside for a time. It's easy to lose ourselves along the way! But having things you are passionate about is part of creating the life you want!
In today's episode, I am going to talk about practical strategies for rediscovering the things you love and embarking on a journey to find what you're most passionate about as part of creating an abundant and purposeful life.
I talk about:
- Realizing you need to make some changes
- Strategies for finding things you are passionate about
- The importance of creating boundaries
- How having a life you are passionate about creates the life you want
- It's never too late to start
We often talk about developing skills and achieving goals as a strategy to have the life you want and become the very best version of yourself. But sometimes we face obstacles to growth because of our weaknesses, and it can be really difficult to get real with ourselves about what needs to happen for us to move past those obstacles.
In today's episode, I am going to share my journey to overcome one of my greatest weaknesses that has been an obstacle I have always struggled with, how I tackled it, what I learned, and strategies you can use to address your own weaknesses!
I talk about:
- Sometimes we aren't as terrible at things as we think we are
- Learning strategies to help us get what we want
- The importance of meeting your weaknesses head-on
- What you should do this week to start
- Strategies you can use to overcome challenges
We all love vacations! Setting out for a new destination, having fun, finally having time to relax and get away for a while, and building new memories. But vacations can be so expensive, and sometimes, just thinking about the cost of a vacation keeps us at home.
Today's episode is all about getting that much-needed vacation without spending yourself into a pile of debt. So get ready to hear some strategies you can use to keep costs down and gather the necessary funds to get you out the door and on the road to your next adventure!
On today's episode:
- Hatching a plan 1:36
- More than just a vacation 4:03
- Planning for success 4:53
- The power of a map 7:23
- Feeding the troops 9:13
- Site-seeing on a budget 10:03
- The secret to having fun on a road trip 17:19
- The worst kind of road trip 19:51
Power Quotes
Vacations are a time to reconnect with loved ones and build amazing memories 4:03
When money is an obstacle, you need to plan 4:56
Some of the most memorable parts of a vacation are free 10:09
Stopping along to way to have spur of the moment adventures is the fun of road tripping 17:21
There is nothing that makes us happier as parents than to have happy children! We love to give them presents that bring a smile to their face. Seeing our children smile brings us great joy and satisfaction. But is the investment of time and money spent on giving our children material things resulting in the return we are hoping for?
On today's episode, we will explore a powerful strategy for creating lasting happiness, strengthening our relationships, and building a healthier future for our greatest treasure, our children.
On today's episode:
- Holiday awakening 2:05
- A life full of things 3:42
- A path that just feels more natural 5:05
- The gift of learning 6:49
- Less stuff for more play time 8:36
- Cooperation and sharing happens more easily with fewer things 8:55
- A better investment 9:57
- Having grateful and generous children 10:17
- The secret to having happier children 12:01
- Getting to know your children 13:38
- Learning about themselves and the world 17:27
- Opening the door to the world by giving them confidence 18:28
Power Quotes
A life full of things was not the life I wanted 3:43
Children with few toys, but parents who spend time with them, do better in school 7:05
Investing in fewer toys has a better return in play time 8:41
A child who has been given everything they want is less grateful and generous than the child who has few material possessions 11:34
Lifelong happiness comes from experiences, not from the things you buy for your children 12:34
Handling challenges like a pro requires that you have strong foundations already in place when the challenges happen. One important foundation is a financial foundation built with education and strategies focused on long-term stability.
In today's episode, I am going to share with you an important financial strategy I learned from a video game, and why this strategy can be life-changing and put you on the road to long-term financial stability.
In today's episode:
- When that 'thing' you worry about, actually happens 1:00
- Backed into a corner 5:15
- An unlikely solution to a life-changing problem 7:08
- Starting down the path to financial stability 10:20
- The one time I played a video game it changed my life 10:43
- Getting focused on cash flow 12:03
- A different kind of diversity 13:31
- Financial concepts we can learn from Sushi and Ramen 15:00
- Your financial mindset 16:52
- Fixing your relationship with money 18:44
- Creating a foundation for long-term financial stability 20:21
- The benefits of preparing 22:19
Power Quotes
A basic understanding of finance is an essential life skill 12:13
If your only source of income is from your job, that's a precarious position to be in 13:43
Grow your cash flow to match the lifestyle you want 18:08
Examine your relationship with money, and then work to repair it 18:43
With all of the responsibilities many of us juggle daily, it's not difficult to understand how the goals we have for ourselves can get lost as we struggle to keep up with the demands on our time and our energy. By the time we take care of all the things we feel obligated to do, there is very little left for the things we want to do.
Today's episode is all about the importance of focusing on those key things and letting everything else blur into the background of your life. So join me to explore the strategies you can use to refocus your energy and time on the essential things in your life.
In today's episode:
- Losing focus 1:27
- Lessons I learned from my camera 3:09
- Capturing something unique from your life 5:27
- Strategies for focus 6:24
- Journaling for focus 7:26
- The power of 'no' 8:32
- Intentional living 10:52
- The secret? 11:21
- How focus helps you thrive during the hard times 12:28
Power Quotes
- By pausing to focus, you will come away with beautiful and meaningful memories. 5:44
- Focus is what allows you to capture what you want in life 6:19
- Determine what you want to achieve, and then let everything else blur into the background 10:52
- These strategies are the same whether you are trying to be a better mother or trying to scale your business because these are the strategies that work 11:23
Trying to keep up with the demands of life isn't easy, and sometimes you find yourself overwhelmed, lacking the time and energy needed to fulfill all your obligations and keep up with all of life's demands.
Today's episode is all about ways you can simplify your life and reserve your energy for the things that are most important to you! Practical strategies that will help you align your approach to life with your goals.
In today's episode:
- New challenges 2:00
- The challenges of mealtimes 3:53
- Making dinner work for you 6:13
- The stressful years raising teenagers. 9:03
- A simplified perspective on parenting 10:29
- The only two hard and fast rules 12:29
- Find the parenting style that works for each child. 13:27
- More freedom to choose means more mistakes. 15:37
- Having a parenting goal 16:32
- A simplified approach to housekeeping 17:13
- The angrier I got, the messier my house got. 18:14
- Your secret weapon 19:48
- Your most precious commodity 20:56
- A very simple concept 21:45
- The REAL reason you feel guilty about saying no 21:50
- The correct way to decline an invitation 22:49
Power Quotes
Make decisions based on what works best for your family, not based on what the world thinks is best for your family. 8:19
Parenting the way that works for your family is parenting the right way 15:26
The WiFi password is a powerful currency, and you should use it 19:48
Stop spending time and money on things you don't care about 21:45
When you look around at your life right now, does it seem that the challenges are just stacking up, and handling all of the stress becomes overwhelming? If you are struggling to keep and you’re not sure how to navigate the challenges without losing yourself in the process, today’s episode is for you!
The Highly Unlikely Podcast is back and today I am going to give you some real-world strategies to help you during challenging times, so you can come out emotionally and mentally healthy and strong.Â
In today’s episode:
- Academic success 1:01
- A difficult decision 1:35
- A heap of challenges 2:30
- Strategies for challenging times 8:43
- The most important foundation for success 9:13
- The art of saying no      12:00
- Life lesson you can learn from your camera 14:40
- Checking out 18:08
- Aim for your goal 20:10
Power Quotes
-You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can control the amount of work and energy you put into achieving your goals 22:13
-Defining your priorities when you’re not in crisis creates a foundation for success to carry you through your challenges 9:23
-You will be happier if you learn to say no to the things that don’t matter 13:24
-Focus on what’s most important to you and let everything else blur into the background 16:33
I love cooking and I LOVE to eat...but I don’t love to exercise. I know I’m not alone in that!
We often talk about the effect that food and exercise have on our waistline, but today, I want to talk about the effect they have on your mind.
Today’s episode is all about the big elephant in the room that everyone wants to ignore...mental health. If you or someone you love has been dealing with mental health issues in the past year, do not miss a minute! I am going to dig into all kinds of interesting strategies and talk about the physical effects food and exercise have on your brain.
- The crisis no one is talking about 1:42
- Let’s keep the conversation going 2:25
- Fitness is more than the size of your pants 2:38
- A big part of our identity 3:28
- I did the hard thing 4:30
- Exercise...ugh! 5:11
- The weirdest weirdo that ever lived 5:44
- The biggest change 6:54
- Coping by moving 7:41
- Good science 8:49
- Who doesn’t love a big fat hippo 9:53
- The underlying cause of depression 10:31
- Endorphins do more than make you feel good 11:15
- The effectiveness of exercise 12:07
- Food, drink and your brain 12:41
- Let me be VERY clear! 13:29
- How to know it’s time for a change 14:14
- Food and exercise as a tool 15:10
- Get stable, then make change 15:39
- Getting the very best results 16:04
- Join me and put it to the test 17:10
- I cannot stress this enough 17:35
Power Quotes
It’s time to talk about food and exercise in relation to our mental health 3:03
Moving your body helps you cope with stress and anxiety 7:41
Exercise physically changes your brain for the good 10:30
If health and fitness has the potential to heal us, shouldn’t we at least try?13:09
You can choose to use food as a tool to fuel you, rather than to comfort what ails you. 15:14
**If you are struggling with thoughts of feelings of suicide, get help now. 17:39
For links from the show, visit: www.ahighlyunlikelylife.com**
Remember when you were a kid, and daydreaming and imagination were things all the adults in your life accepted as part of your normal development? Why did we stop daydreaming and using our imaginations?
In today’s episode, we will talk all about the power of imagination and re-developing the ability to daydream...with a purpose! This important tool is essential in your journey to make your dream into reality.
- Yep, it’s a sports analogy 1:55
- What is success? 4:18
- The picture of success 5:06
- Your perfect shot 6:01
- Action 6:39
- The one tool you need to dream 7:26
- Writing a new narrative 8:11
- Little changes, big results 9:32
- Becoming the person you want to be 11:42
- It’s not magic; it’s science 12:50
- Feeding your magnificent mind 15:13
- Never underestimate the power of your mind 16:47
Power Quotes
Visualization is essential to success 4:03
Visualization is seeing yourself take the perfect shot, nothing but net 7:19
You become the person you envision in your mind 11:59
Forming a new narrative in your mind shapes you into the person you want to be and creates the life you want to have. 15:12
Never doubt the power of your mind 16:47
Having a house that is clean and tidy all day every day is something social media tells us is normal, but in reality, it is something many people really struggle with. Keeping every space organized and tidy can be overwhelming, and sometimes impossible. You are not alone in your struggles!
Today’s episode is part 2 of the discussion about organization and today we will focus on organizing the space around you. I will give you practical strategies that can be implemented by everyone, no matter how busy you are or how messy your home has become!
- Keeping it clean is way easier than getting it clean 4:18
- Break it down so you don’t get overwhelmed 5:31
- The power of a timer! 6:47
- The narratives that get passed down to us 7:38
- Rewriting the narrative in just fifteen minutes 8:31
- Maintenance is a breeze when done intelligently 10:02
- My favorite cleaning quote 10:56
- Reduce stress in 5 minutes a day 11:45
- Where to start 12:53
- The secret to clutter busting 13:33
- The extreme measures I took to attack the clutter 15:21
- Unexpected outcomes 16:57
- The most resisted aspect of organizing is the most beneficial 19:04
- The connection between internal and external organization 20:01
- Upcoming projects! 21:09
- Where you can go to find more resources 21:43
Power Quotes
An organized space creates peace of mind 4:14
It is much easier to keep something clean than to get it clean 4:23
You don’t have to spend your whole day cleaning to have a clean house 6:52
Decluttering reduces stress 11:55
Minimizing the clutter in your house minimizes the clutter in your mind 20:02
Being organized, getting organized, staying organized...we hear about it all the time! As our lives become increasingly complex, and we try to cram more and more into every 24-hour period of time, being organized can feel like it becomes unachievable, like an ideal scenario that’s not based on reality.
But in today’s episode, I am going to unwrap the complexity and layout simple and practical steps you can take to turn ideal into real. It all starts with what’s going on in your mind!
- No wonder you’re struggling 1:40
- Being organized isn’t about a clean house 3:17
- Focus 4:30
- Wasted time and energy 6:58
- The Yin and Yang of organization 8:45
- Organization for a time-constrained life 9:41
- Priorities 9:54
- Resources 11:16
- It’s all about routines 12:08
- Wardrobe malfunctions 12:45
- A different kind of nightlife 14:32
- Setting yourself up for success 16:43
- It’s a beautiful morning 18:53
Power Quotes
Organizing your external space is an extension of organizing internally 3:28
Internal organization helps you focus on what’s important in life 4:31
You can’t be calm and have peace when you’re in a stressful state 8:34
Prioritizing your goal creates a foundation for organization 10:01
Links:
http://www.flylady.net/
https://shop.flylady.net/p/B
With Valentine’s Day around the corner and it is the week of love! Unfortunately, there seems to be a national shortage of love these days. If you have spent any time on social media or watching the news, it may seem that love has become scarce. So how do we show love in a world of hate?
Today’s episode dives right into this important issue and how we can turn it around with practical tools and strategies to create a foundation of love and kindness in your own life.
- Bombarded by negativity 0:52
- The importance of a strong foundation 2:29
- How you start your day 3:42
- Seeking positivity 5:10
- Your tribe 6:42
- Finding out what’s really important to you 6:54
- The power of tangibility 7:41
- Time away 8:57
- Actions speak louder than words 10:14
- Returning to kindness 11:09
- It takes two 12:24
- Listening to voices you disagree with 13:15
- Giving the gift of acceptance 14:54
- What you do changes the world 15:25
Power Quotes:
If you want a life filled with love and kindness, you need to build the foundation for love and kindness 3:07
Take a look at the five people who are closest to you, that’s who you are 6:42
If the world gets too heavy, put it down for a while and take a break 9:02
Spread love and kindness through the things you do and say 10:18
Everyone wants to be loved and accepted for who they are 14:54
When someone you love does something wrong, forgiveness is often instantaneous, but that’s not always true for yourself. In fact, many of us carry around guilt from poor choices we made decades ago.
Today’s episode dives into the reasons behind the struggle to forgive yourself, and the importance of extending grace to yourself. Whether it is all the small things or something that caused serious harm to someone you love, forgiveness is an important part of growing and moving forward.
- Our ability to forgive ourselves 2:03
- Killer paint 3:06
- The guilt we carry with us 7:13
- Definition of an accident 9:11
- Giving the gift of forgiveness to others 10:24
- Guilt is limiting 11:56
- The foundation of forgiveness 12:28
- The importance of forgiving yourself 13:54
- Comparison 15:21
- Time for boundaries 17:19
- Reconditioning your mind 18:01
- Fixing what’s broken inside 19:36
- Free yourself 20:00
Power Quotes
Forgiving yourself isn’t easy, but that doesn’t make it less important 11:58
Love creates the fertile ground needed for forgiveness 13:20
No one is as critical of you, as you ar 19:31
Make a choice to give yourself the gift of forgiveness 19:56
We have all faced challenges and hard times in our lives. We have made mistakes, gone down roads we wished we hadn’t, and have had to face the consequences of our choices. That is part of the human experience. But all of that experience and those challenges have brought you to where you find yourself today. Â
Today’s episode is all about choosing how to use your flaws, mistakes, and challenging experiences to propel you forward in your quest to live your best life.
- Learning from trauma 3:27
- Evolving 4:41
- You’re no different than the Kardashians 5:40
- Feelings of inadequacy 6:19
- If you want a cut of meat, call the butcher 7:21
- Your flaws make you perfect 8:43
- You’re exactly where you need to be 9:23
- Using your experience 10:39
- Not choosing is choosing 11:42
- Finding your purpose 12:43
Power Quotes
No matter what you have been through in the past, you have the ability to become the very best version of yourself 5:45
Your flaws, mistakes, and challenges have led you to exactly where you need to be to do the work you need to do 9:27
Use your challenges and experience to affect real change in the world 10:25
By not choosing, you are choosing 11:42
You have been placed where you are today for a purpose 12:43
The last year taught us a lot. Many of our routines, things we took for granted, and activities we enjoyed we disrupted and replaced by uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. Fear serves a purpose. To protect us and help us exercise caution when needed. But fear, when left unchecked, can keep you trapped and unable to move forward.
Today’s episode is all about facing the fear that limits you. Being willing to move outside of the comfort of the life you know to take the risks necessary to have the life you dream of is a challenge, but you can choose to move beyond the fear.
- Normal emotions 1:44
- Unhealthy fear 3:07
- Living in fear will not save you 5:53
- Living your life 6:40
- Using fear appropriately 7:40
- The other side of fear 8:26
- Dreams that scare you 9:25
- The box created by fear 10:26
- What are you afraid of? 10:53
- Failure 11:21
- Growing to overcome obstacles 12:07
- Choosing to face your fears and move forward 13:35
Power Quotes
Existing does not equal living 7:16
Moving forward in spite of your fear is the only way to get to what’s beyond the fear 8:47
Pursuing your dreams should take you into the unknown, where risk lives 9:25
Fear is a dream killer 10:41
If you keep trying again every time you fail, you will eventually succeed 11:25
Choose a path that leads to the life you want 14:17
The life you dream of is on the other side of fear 14:55
The power of words is easy to understand when you are reading a book that is written so powerfully that it brings you to tears, or when you hear the lyrics to a song that have a message so incredible it gives you chills. Words have the power to evoke emotion, inspire, motivate, and even hold the power to cause injury when used as a weapon.
Today’s episode is all about the power of one word. Choosing one word to be your power word for the year can teach you important lessons, unleash your inner strength as you are facing challenges, and help to keep you focused on your goals throughout the year.
- A harrowing adventure 3:54
- Rapid reflections 8:51
- Emotional responses 10:57
- Courage in the face of danger 12:25
- Courage overrides fear 13:41
- Your courage vs. other people’s behavior 13:53
- Courage in action 14:22
- Empowerment and presence of mind 14:44
- New Year, new word 16:09
- What it means to prevail 17:25
- Unleash your inner strength 18:21
- Choosing your word for the year 19:47
Power Quotes:
Your courage does not change other people, it changes you 10:40
Courage requires you to have a plan of action 13:09
Courage allows you to act rather than react 13:41
Courage is action that overrides fear 13:48
Fear is limiting, courage is empowering 14:41
Unleash your inner power and prevail 18:43
The New Year is here! Goodbye 2020...at last!! No one knows what this new year will bring, but before we can set out on this journey, we need to decide where we are heading and how we plan to get there.
The start of a new year is an excellent time to take stock of the progress you have made and set goals that will help you continue to progress towards your big goals. Are there things you want to change? Is there growth you want to experience? Achievements you want to make? Today’s episode is all about setting the goals you need to get you where you want to go.
- A life-changing practice 3:44
- Doing things the SMART way 4:21
- Dreaming big 6:45
- Keeping it real 8:21
- Making yourself accountable 9:58
- The road trip of a lifetime 11:32
- Pit stops are SMART 12:22
- Breaking it down 14:05
- Smaller goals, faster results 16:31
- Make it visual 18:07
- The secret to success 18:57
- What if it’s not working? 19:43
- Giving yourself grace 20:12
Power Quotes:
Allow yourself to dream big 6:44
You cannot change other people, you can only change yourself 8:18
The journey to achieving your big goal is like the road trip of a lifetime 11:32
SMART goals allow you to focus on one leg of the journey at a time 17:56
You are the master of your goals 20:19
Give yourself grace 21:53
With the coming of the new year, many of us are taking stock and setting goals for the coming year. For many of us, one of those things may be the relationships we have with the people in our lives. Even though they are the lifeblood of our existence and are the very thing that gives meaning to our lives, relationships are sometimes difficult and often take considerable effort to develop and maintain.
In today’s episode, we will dive into the complexity of relationships and discuss the tools we need to build and develop positive relationships, and ways you can improve the relationships with the people who matter most, starting today!
- Recognizing relationships that need help 1:57
- Custom carpentry and relationship building 5:44
- Do you speak their love language? 6:46
- Listen to their words 9:15
- The key to relationships 13:02
- Showing up in meaningful ways changes relationships 16:48
- How to show up 20:21
- Having important conversations about relationships 21:40
- Where to start 23:31
- Find your tribe 23:47
Power Quotes:
Relationships, like custom carpentry, use the one set of tools applied in unique ways 6:05
Once you know someone’s love language, you can show them love in ways that are meaningful to them 9:04
Stop what you are doing and listen 10:43
Show up 13:05
Doing what you think someone needs is different than fulfilling their needs 16:11
If someone is important to you, then figuring out how to show up in meaningful ways needs to be important to you as well 17:01
Find a tribe that encourages you on the path you want to be on and doesn’t keep you trapped on the path you are trying to change 25:29
In the midst of the holiday season, it can be easy to get caught up in the preparations, extra stressors like finances, and even our personal struggles that hit this time of year. This can make it hard to find joy in what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.
In today’s episode, we will talk about ways to find peace during this holiday season and create a lasting foundation for happiness in your life.
- A key element to happiness 2:59
- Changing my approach to life 4:50
- The practice of gratitude 5:56
- The challenges of 2020 6:37
- Being happy during challenging times 8:13
- The foundation of happiness 9:26
- What is happiness? 9:35
- Creating a positive state of being 10:45
- A peaceful refuge in the storm 12:08
- Emotionally connecting to the good things in your life 13:23
- Peaceful and happy holidays 14:52
Power Quotes:
Gratitude is the foundation of happiness 9:26
Happiness isn’t a feeling, it’s a state of being. 10:39
Happiness is being able to focus on the good things in your life, even during challenges. 11:40
Gratitude creates a refuge from the storms of life 12:18
Focusing on the things you are grateful for creates a state of happiness. 12:32
As a woman, you might put the happiness of others above your own. You may always put your children or your spouse first. You may even avoid sharing your real thoughts or feelings and retreat inward to avoid upsetting others. This can leave you feeling drained, stressed, tired, and anxious. You may even feel like you can’t do it one more day.
The good news is you’re not alone and there’s a solution! Today we will discuss the need for personal boundaries, the benefits of setting them, and the 7 steps you can start taking today to set clear and manageable boundaries for yourself that you can actually keep!
- How to recognize whose expectations you are trying to meet (1:28)
- Why putting others ahead of yourself is costing you your goals (3:00)
- Are you creating healthy boundaries in your life? (4:47)
- How to know if friends and family are filling the gap your spouse won’t fill (8:36)
- When you just can’t do it on your own anymore and how to avoid reaching that point (11:47)
- Why lacking this one thing can lead to anger in your life (14:23)
- How the past is holding you back and how to move forward from it (16:13)
- How your lack of boundaries is being passed to the next generation (18:30)
- What the world is telling you and how you should respond (20:44)
- The 7 steps you can take to successfully set and keep boundaries for yourself (22:09)
Power Quotes:
I know what it’s like to give up your dreams and accept that life gave you a different path than the one you imagined (3:55)
There are women who remain silent because they don’t want to be the source of someone else’s unhappiness (3:30)
Having healthy boundaries allows you to care for yourself so that you can better fulfill your roles (6:16)
Give yourself permission to pursue what you deserve (22:54)
Do you ever look back at your life and wonder how things would be different if you had done things differently? Sometimes looking back gives you a sense of pride that you worked so hard and things turned out well...and sometimes looking back doesn’t feel so great.
Today’s episode is all about living your life in a way that will allow you to look back on today without regret.
In today’s episode:
- What motivates you to work hard? (3:21)
- What is regret? (3:58)
- Avoiding regret (4:38)
- You can only control yourself (8:30)
- Intentional living (9:30)
- Having the tools you need (10:14)
- What you can do today (12:08)
- The importance of having a goal (13:14)
- Why your tribe matters (14:33)
Power Quotes:
Choose to live today in a way that allows you to move forward without regret.(8:38)
Even if you fail, you won’t regret trying. (9:14)
Define your goal, and then aim for it. (15:37)
Today is a great day to start (17:33)
You are the master of your own life (17:42)
Everyone faces challenges. The way you approach these challenges and your perspective on growth is often the difference between success and failure. You have the power to overcome the limits you have unknowingly set for yourself and take control of your life. Change is within your grasp!
In today’s episode, we will be talking about the impact that mindset has on your ability to grow and overcome challenges.
Episode Highlights:
- What is mindset? (5:58)
- Understanding mindset (6:29)
- Applying a growth mindset (11:29)
- Lessons learned from applying a growth mindset (14:20)
- Overcoming a fixed mindset (14:59)
- The difference between success and failure (15:45)
- Limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns (16:38)
- Using failures to grow (17:18)
- How to develop a growth mindset (18:18)
Power Quotes:
Struggling does not equal failure. Struggling equals growth and learning. (15:46)
If you never stop trying, you will succeed. (15:53)
Having a growth mindset is power over your own life (17:15)
Changing your mindset changes your life (21:15)
Just as the seasons of the year change, so do the seasons of your life. Some seasons are prettier and more pleasant than others but are good things to be enjoyed in every season. Opportunities for growth and change are sometimes packaged in the most difficult seasons of our lives, but it is still possible to choose joy and happiness, even in the hardest times.
In today’s episode, we will be taking a journey into the changing seasons of life and choosing happiness in difficult times.
Episode highlights:
- Do you know what season of life you are in? 2:21
- Changing of seasons 4:19
- Finding joy in your life 5:44
- Lessons from the hard times 9:32
- Preparing for coming seasons 12:36
- There is a new season ahead 18:07
Power Quotes:
You might really be struggling right now, but your season will change.
Allow the dark seasons of your life to be seasons of exponential growth.
Find joy in the season of life you are living now.
No matter how dark it seems, there is beautiful sunshine that will fill your life again.
Sometimes life takes you in a direction you don’t want to go. Sometimes your choices can lead to embarrassment, anger, or just feeling stuck. The good news is that despite what happens to you or the choices you’ve made in the past, you can move forward and start living the life that you want.
In today’s episode we will be discussing the effects of past decisions, what you can do now, and the steps you should take to start enjoying life and creating a future you can look forward to!
Episode highlights:
- Are you letting past decisions define your present? (1:26)
- How to overcome victimhood (6:54)
- The lesson we can all learn from the bonsai tree (9:05)
- The one tool you need to use every day to change your direction and meet your goals (11:32)
- How to get out of your rut and start living the life you want (12:38)
Power Quotes:
I choose the life that I want, not the one I was given (8:14)
We are not bound by the things that happen to us (9:53)
Your past does not define you. You define your future by the decisions you make today. (16:24)
In today’s world, women’s lives are busier than ever with family, friends, work, housework, and all the many other responsibilities you have. It can feel like you’re drowning and the most important people in your life get lost in the chaos.
Today we’ll discuss why it’s time to start choosing your priorities and how to clear up your life, put your priorities first, and start enjoying stronger relationships!
In today’s episode:
- How your personality traits could be affecting how you connect with your children (1:30)
- What you don’t know is hurting your children (7:31)
- The type of conversation that is essential to a healthy relationship with your kids (8:19)
- The biggest challenge women face in relationships and how to overcome it (8:50)
- Why you need to remove roadblocks in your relationships and how to start today (14:35)
- How experiences can change your perspective (18:57)
Power Quotes:
Balance is a lie. (10:34)
You have to choose your priorities (10:41)
You can’t have a good relationship with someone who is miserable because of you (16:36)
Don’t be willing to accept a life of regret (23:44)
In today’s virtual world, we spend a lot of time interacting with people who we never see face to face. This lack of connection has led to bullying, anger, and an overall lack of kindness on social media platforms. The comfort people feel behind their keyboards can lead to others being hurt and torn down.
In today’s episode, we discuss the need for grace and kindness and how taking a minute to be kind can affect your whole environment, online and in your community.
- The one virtue you must have to change your environment (1:14)
- How social media is hurting you and your loved ones (1:45)
- The different ways to deal with grief (6:35)
- Coping vs Grief (9:53)
- The only way to move forward after a tragedy (15:40)
- The one thing we can all do to improve our society (16:10)
- How to be emotionally strong (17:06)
- How doing the hard thing can change the world (20:19)
Power Quotes:
We can mitigate the damage to our country by being kind (16:25)
Kindness is the greatest strength you can have (17:12)
Kindness is way more contagious than COVID (21:03)
When the lockdowns started, there were many people in a panic. Maybe you were one of them. What food did you have? What food did you need? What about toilet paper!? I think we all felt the panic even if we were mostly prepared.
With more waves of the virus and possibly more lockdowns, it is important to check your level of preparation and make sure that you and your family are prepared for emergencies.
In today’s episode we will be discussing what it means to be prepared, what you actually need to store, and the best way to store it!
In today’s show:
- The first step you must take to improve your emergency preparedness (9:00)
- Why your failures are crucial to increasing your preparedness (11:22)
- The time frame you must think about to make sure you are prepared (13:03)
- The perfect location for your food storage (16:04)
- What are you storing and will it actually serve your family? (18:03)
- What skills do you have and what skills do you need? (19:28)
- How to store food within your means (21:08)
- Hoarding vs Preparedness (23:40)
Power Quotes:
Intentional actions get you where you want to be (21:16)
Make the plan before you buy (21:14)
Making money and paying bills can be a big weight to bear. The pandemic has added on more weight than some people feel they can carry. Day after day, week after week, the stress of our finances can keep us from true freedom and happiness.
Today on The Highly Unlikely Podcast, we will be discussing your pocket book, how the pandemic has helped or hindered your finances, and how to bring yourself true peace for your mind and bank account.
- The lessons we need to take from the pandemic to make lasting change in our lives (1:59)
- Where is your money coming from? (2:42)
- What your boss didn’t want you to know before the pandemic (4:18)
- The first thing you must have to work from home (5:00)
- The financial guru that can change your life (9:10)
- How this one crucial thing can feel restrictive but actually allows you more freedom (11:00)
- How to get out of debt quickly (13:37)
- The honest problem in America and why no one is talking about it (16:10)
- The real cost of debt (18:08)
- Where does your peace of mind come from? (19:08)
- How much money you should have in savings and how to put it there (20:39)
- The true financial situation in the U.S. (23:00)
- The nasty trick financial institutions use to take your money (24:50)
Power Quotes:
We have a spending problem, not a money problem- (16:32)
America has a debt problem- (18:19)
You can find real peace of mind when you are debt free- (19:20)
Welcome to the Highly Unlikely Podcast!
With all the chaos in our world, how are you caring for YOU? Between school, work, and a pandemic, it can be easy to lose yourself in the crazy, but caring for yourself is key to making it through and keeping your sanity!
Join me, Lavena Perry from a Highly Unlikely Life, for a deep discussion about self-care and the tools and tricks I use to make sure your bucket is full so you can more effectively give to the others in your life.
In today's episode:
Why you need your neighbors (3:55)
Do you have a survival plan? (7:15)
How to prepare yourself emotionally for whatever comes your way (9:17)
How this key activity can enhance your self-care routine (10:48)
Getting your hands dirty to care for your soul (17:28)
Power Quotes:
“Give me all the deets!”
“Ask yourself the important questions to find what you love.”
“Gardening is good for my soul.”