The truth about having it all.
Let’s get real for a minute. There are a lot of non-truths out there about having it all. And most of the non-truths that exist in our head are there because we have made them up.
We look at someone’s seemingly perfect Facebook life and determined that it is possible to be beautifully perfectly happy all. the. time. #nontruth
We watch another family and the way they so effortlessly laugh at just the right time about just the right thing and determined that they do all the right things in all the right ways at all the right times. #nontruth
We see another woman with the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect family, the perfect body and assumed she is perfectly happy every damn day. #nontruth
The notion we have about someone else having it all is just a perception and a manifestation of the comparison trap and FOMO rolled up into one big ball of judgment.
It is ok to want more out of life. It is ok to do more with your life. It’s ok to want to have it all. But want it because it’s right for you, not because it looks good on someone else. Do things because they light you up, not because they are part of a culturally designated formula of happiness or satisfaction.
Do not write your happiness formula based on your outside view of someone else’s experiences.
You can actually very safely assume that no one else truly has it all. And you don’t need to have it all either.
If you want to have it all, define what you want and WHY you want it. Then determine how you can get it. There is always a way.
And while you are working toward what you want, enjoy the heck out of what you already have. If you’re not grateful for what you already have, you will never love the things you get later. Come from gratitude and work from there.
Maria Alcoke is host of the Engine Mom Podcast, a CrossFit-L1 trainer at CrossFit Cove in Columbia, Maryland and runs her own graphic and web development studio, MariaVida Creative.
After over 10 years in the creative field in both agency and education settings, she left the corporate world to pursue her own business right before she the birth of her daughter. Two years in to her motherhood and entrepreneurial journey, Maria has a thriving design business and has merged her passion for teaching and fitness through coaching.
Maria realized the true value of community and connection while navigating some major life transitions which included moving across the country, starting her own business and becoming a mom.
She started The Engine Mom Podcast with the goal to share different perspectives from Moms who are driven by their passions. By sharing these stories, she hopes to empower Moms from all walks of life to be their best selves by identifying what fuels them: their passions and greater purpose.
Maria is an inspiring woman and entrepreneur. She is also one of my very first Shameless Mom Mastermind members and one of my very first Shameless Mom Coaching clients. So, I’m obviously ridiculously proud of her. I can’t wait for you to hear her story. I know she will inspire you to start getting a little more uncomfortable and a lot more excited when it comes to building a life you’re really passionate about.
Listen in to hear Maria share:
Links Mentioned:
Engine Mom Website: http://enginemom.com/
Maria’s Graphic Design Website: http://mariavida.com
Engine Mom on Facebook
Engine Mom on Instagram
Free Registration to The Surviving to Thriving Summit
We have officially arrived at the Season of Plan B.
We are at the time of year where sh*t happens:
In all these instances, having a Plan B is crucial. Your life doesn’t have to be determined by the circumstances of your day – but often your daily action steps do. This means you need to be prepared to manage the heck out of your day even when things turn sideways.
When you practice taking charge of your Plan B a few times, you will build a ton of confidence in your ability to ROCK THE DAY #everydamnday, in spite of the winter blunders that inevitably happen.
Tune in to get some specific tips on how to plan for anything and everything life might throw your way this time of year.
Links Mentioned:
Free Registration for The Surviving To Thriving Summit
Stephanie Lambert is a BOLD Mom Mentor, Life Coach and founder of the BOLD Moms which focuses on approaching parenting and life with a self-directed, sometimes counter-culture, long-term view in mind.
The BOLD Moms focuses on supporting local Stay-at-Home Mom Sisters to help them reconnect with themselves, uncover their unique passions and craft their own happiness to lead a BOLD and regret-free life.
Additionally, the BOLD Moms Workshops and BOLD Mom Mastermind courses teach modern moms how to parent BOLDLY - from a place of self-confidence – in the face of our compare and despair, short-term focused culture.
When she isn’t spending time with clients or mothering her 2 sons (often against the grain…) she is busy activating her love of learning by trying new and varied activities like crew rowing and drumming.
Listen in to hear Stephanie share:
Links Mentioned:
Stephanie’s Website: TheBOLDMoms.com
BOLD Moms on Facebook
Stephanie’s Blog: Parenting On the Rocks
Stephanie’s Article: Motherhood Interrupted
Stephanie’s Article: Parent With a Purpose
Book: How to Raise An Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims
Sponsor: http://www.KINDsnacks.com/shameless (hop over here to try 10 KIND bars for free – just pay shipping!)
Do you have habits that you know are no longer serving you, but you don’t know how to break them? Or maybe you’ve tried to break old habits and they have crept back over and over again?
I’ve been talking to people about this a lot recently – as it relates to weight loss, stress eating, skipping workouts, drinking too much alcohol, eating too much sugar, getting sucked into hours of useless social media time, staying up to late at night, hitting snooze too many times in the morning – the list goes on…
The biggest trick to kicking a useless habit to the curb is making sure you have a replacement habit that serves you.
Listen in to hear my dive into these 8 steps to creating space for new habits:
Links Mentioned:
Work With Me: Interested in coaching with me? Let’s chat! Connect with me here.
Fear. Anxiety. Negative thinking. Imposter syndrome.
Does this sound like you? Shannon herself has been there; feeling like an imposter, worrying she will be found out and that she is not enough. She has felt fear and let that both hold her back and push her forward. She has struggled with anxiety and let it debilitate her in the past. She has experienced obstacles that she herself created and cultivated a life around negative thoughts and stories.
Joyful. Authentic. Purpose Driven. Real.
This is where you will now find her. An imperfect, wanna-be hippy/ yogi that sometimes curses too much. Simple and basic, but pointed and raw in her teaching. She makes mistakes, likes to have fun, drinks wine and knows that in order to be present she has to be authentically herself. And only in that authenticity can she experience real purpose and joy.
Drawing from her own personal life experiences and the privilege of working with thousands of others who have embarked on similar journeys, Shannon has the tools that she needs to effectively help women through her coaching, counseling, workshops, programs and retreats.
This is a really enlightening conversation about love, fear and the power of surrendering. I know you’ll enjoy spending time with Shannon as much as I do!
Listen in to hear Shannon share:
Links Mentioned:
Website: http://www.mindbodycomplete.com
Podcast: Happy Hour Podcast with Dee and Shannon
Book: The Subtle of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Shannon on Facebook
Shannon on Twitter
Shannon on Instagram
One of the most significant things I have worked on over the last few years (especially since becoming a mom) is standing in my power. This can be scary and uncomfortable as all get out. But it is a necessary part of living the life I want to live, inspiring others through my actions, setting a good example for my child AND having a lot more fun, if we’re being honest!
As women, we often shy away from power – thinking it is a too much, too masculine, too uncomfortable. The truth is that power if not a bad thing, as long as it’s not abused. Power can bring about change and beauty and growth. Power can be transformative and ridiculously positive.
It’s time for all of us to take more #radicalresponsibility over our true power and USE IT for the greater good. Let’s be brave and bold together, deal?!?
Here are 3 ways I have been standing in my power a lot more recently:
Listen in to hear my stories around each of these and how YOU can stand in your power #everydamnday!
Anna Willard is an author, personal trainer and the oldest child from a family of five.
From her personal exercise journey streaming from numerous sports and multiple injuries, she discovered hope through movement. After many injuries and failed goals she experienced how movement is medicine. Exercise and movement continue to give her hope and allow her to dream again and again! Understanding this power she works with women and men strengthening them on their journey towards a living a life beyond their dreams.
Seeing first hand how hopes and dreams go hand in hand with physical fitness, she recently wrote her first book, Spark Your Youth.
I am so thankful to Anna for doing the interview with me, as she was facing her own personal crisis at the time we recorded. It would have been easy and completely understandable for her to cancel the interview, but she felt it was important to honor HOPE, as she does in her book and to show up and share in order to instill HOPE in herself and others, even in the face of grief.
Listen in to hear Anna share:
Links Mentioned:
Anna’s Website: https://annawillard.com/
Anna’s Book: Spark Your Youth
SMA Ep 22 Erin Brown: Letters to Lola
Fall is my favorite for so many reasons (let’s be honest, mostly puffy vests and Uggs). But I’m particularly embracing this fall because of some of the things that are going on around me.
All around me I see people using their voices, taking a stand, letting their values shine and expressing gratitude. YES! YES! YES! AND YES!
More of all of this, please.
Listen in to hear what I’m most excited about this month – inspired by some listener emails and reviews.
Happy SHAMELESS October to you!
xoxo, Sara
Links Mentioned:
SMA Episode 155: Silence Is Not An Option
Book: I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi