Welcome, friend. Today we're exploring what courage really means in our everyday lives.

When we think of courage, we often imagine superheroes doing grand gestures and going to extreme measures. We witness people with seemingly inhuman abilities accomplish incredible things, and that can cause us to question our own humanness and disconnect from what courage truly is.

But here's what I want you to know. Sometimes the most courageous things we do as humans are when nobody else is watching. It's the early mornings we spend journaling. It's the workouts we consistently show up for. It's the hard conversation we have with a family member or team member. It's the ability to recognize that maybe we were wrong in a conversation, that we overreacted, and having the courage to acknowledge that we're human, we make mistakes, and that's okay.

Courage is not just some grand gesture. It's showing up even when you don't want to. It's doing that hard work, having that difficult conversation, taking care of the kids in the middle of the night, and facing everything we have to face on a day to day basis. It's recognizing those little moments of courage and allowing your authentic gifts to shine.

In this episode, I share a personal story about my childhood stuffed animal, Simba, and a little lion toy I've kept on my desk for years. It's interesting how the thing that brought me the most comfort as a child was a lion, a symbol of courage, and how that has played out in my life.

Today, I want you to pause and reflect on the moments where you have been the most courageous within your own hero's journey. When did you stand up to a bully? When did you deliver a hard conversation with love and grace? When did you keep a promise to yourself that you had been breaking? When did you choose love instead of anger? All of these are examples of choosing courage and allowing that to add comfort to your life.

You are the hero in your own journey, and you show courage in so many ways each and every day. You are a unique human being with so much light and capability. Your superpowers are unlike anyone else's, and those capabilities come out the most when you are demonstrating courage.

Journal about those moments where you have been the most courageous. Write the story as if from a third person perspective and get very clear on the feelings that happened within that situation. Recognize the courage you have been bringing into your everyday activities. How are you showing up for yourself, your family, your community in ways that bring you comfort, joy, excitement, and ease?

It took courage for you to listen today and identify all of these things. We often look through the lens of what we're lacking, what we're missing, compared to the courage we're bringing into our everyday lives. So today, let's celebrate that courage.

Listen to today's episode to discover the empowered word, then share it in our Living Life You Love podcast community on the Kollab app. That's the only place to connect with other listeners, connect with me directly, and enter this month's giveaway.

https://livingthelifeyoulove.app.clientclub.net/

Take a deep breath. Sit with today's reflection. And celebrate the ways you are being courageous today.

Hello, friend. I'm Janessa, and I'm so glad you're here.

In this episode, I want to introduce myself and share a bit of my story so you can understand where I'm coming from and why this podcast exists. My life has been a journey of ups and downs, just like so many of you out there, and I believe that sharing my perspective will help us connect on a deeper level as we move forward together.

I grew up in a small town in North Dakota, a place where I always felt like I didn't quite fit in. I was imaginative, curious, and vocal, but the community I grew up in wasn't open to new perspectives. So I learned to shrink myself to feel safe and belong. That led to years of bullying, depression, anxiety, and a deep disconnect from who I truly was.

I stayed small for a long time, even into my first marriage. But when I went through my divorce, everything changed. I started reconnecting with myself and what I truly desired in my life. It wasn't easy. There were tears, judgment from others, and moments where I questioned everything. But I stood firm in making the best decision for myself, and that's when I began the process of reinvention.

This transformation didn't happen overnight. It's been a six to seven year journey filled with mistakes, errors, and plenty of moments where society looked at me and asked, "What are you doing?" But through intentionality, clarity, grace, and compassion with myself, I learned to discern what I truly wanted, what my values were, and how I wished to show up for myself.

I'm not here to tell you that your life needs to be perfect in order to love it. Mine isn't perfect. There are still things I'm working toward, like living somewhere with a warmer climate. But I've learned that I can love my life right now while also working toward what's next. And that's what I want for you.

Every morning, I'll be bringing you actionable reflections to help you disconnect from the external world and reconnect with yourself in a much deeper way. This is a space for you to learn, grow, and set clear intentions so you can build your life from a place of peace, joy, ease, and gratitude.

I'm so grateful you're here, listening in and taking these important steps to learn more about yourself so you can truly design a life you love living.

Download the Kollab app and join our Living Life You Love podcast community. That's where episodes are uploaded every morning first, and it's the easiest way to connect with me directly. I'll be communicating with you there, listening to your insights, and hearing what you want to learn more about. It's also a great place to connect with other members of this community and share what you're learning through this experience. https://livingthelifeyoulove.app.clientclub.net/

Take a deep breath. Let's do this together.

Hello, friend! I'm so glad you're here.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the constant "shoulds" of society—how you should look, act, speak, or live—this podcast is your safe space. I created Living a Life You Love because I was tired of the comparison trap, the people pleasing, and the exhausting pressure to fit into everyone else's expectations.

I finally found peace when I stopped looking outside for guidance and started looking inward. And now, I want to help you do the same.

Every morning, I'll be in your ears with 10 to 20 minute episodes filled with questions, insights, and tools to help you block out the noise and build a life aligned with your own values and desires. This isn't about me telling you what to do. It's about helping you develop a positive internal world so you can create the external life that brings you the most joy.

Whether you're navigating motherhood, career, relationships, or simply trying to find yourself, I'm here to create a space of acceptance and validation for everything you're experiencing.

Listen: Find new episodes every morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Join Our Community: Download the Kollab app and join our private "Living Life You Love" community for early episode access. Living the Life You Love Community

Enter Monthly Giveaways: Each episode features an empowered word or phrase of the day. The only way to enter the giveaway is by sharing it in our community on the Kollab app, where you can win books, tools, memberships, and gift cards. It's my way of giving back to you.

Connect: Engage with other women who are building lives they love, free from comparison and filled with authenticity.

Take a deep breath. I cannot wait to support you on this journey toward a life that truly feels like yours.