Find Your Feisty

For a lot of us, this Christmas and New Year’s will be filled with both goodness and grief, and it can be hard to hold such different emotions at the same time. We’re all tired and ready for things to return to some kind of new normal, but it’s not there quite yet. In the meantime, I’m balancing all of my feelings – both light and heavy – and I want to help you do the same. Here are some ideas…

Do you ignore your needs to give others what they want? Are you always the last person on your list? If you said Yes, then this episode is definitely for you. Listen in for my recent a-ha moment on this, plus three self-loving holiday gifts that I’m sharing with you, so you can give them to yourself! :-)

Annual events always highlight how much you’ve changed from one year to the next. You know, those special days like New Year’s Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving … and the annual boob smash ;-) When I went in for my mammogram last year, I found the facility had made a change for the worse, and I did something that I wouldn’t have done the year before – or any of the years before that! Listen in to find out what I did AND how it went this year…

It’s Election Day 2020, and nothing is more important today than voting so your voice will be heard! I used to be a half-ass educated voter, but the 2016 election changed all of that for me. After that, I could no longer be one of the silent privileged with my head stuck in the sand. Listen in to hear what I stand for and the people and policies I stand by, plus some wise words to keep in mind if you’re not sure how to vote.

When you are confident in who you are and what you want, you’ll show up differently, and I was 36 years old before I felt that kind of whole, with nothing I needed to fix or change about myself. In this final piece of my 3-part series about body image, confidence, and relationships, you’ll hear about the 3 books that made all the difference, the 4 months that I lost and still can’t remember, and the battle for my self-worth (spoiler alert: I win!).

We are living in some interesting times and being challenged like never before, AND we’re all hitting our 6-month wall. This uncertainty is uncomfortable, but it’s also manageable. Fortunately, you don’t need to escape to a private island to get some peace! Listen in for 6 simple and practical ideas that will help you navigate, adapt, and thrive through the months to come … they’re definitely helping me.

This year started out rough for me, and it got worse with all that’s happening for everyone. But as the song says, “I’m still standing, better than I ever did.” I know so many other people are struggling, too, so I’m acknowledging that it’s not always rosy, easy, or pretty, and I see you. I honor your struggle, and you’re not alone. Listen in to hear how I’ve been, where I’m at, and what’s coming next.

In the previous episode, I shared how my body image nightmare began, what I made it all mean, and how I kept myself small as protection from disappointment, criticism, and life. This week, you’ll hear where I started looking for confidence – I didn’t have much of it inside myself, so I began by looking outside myself.

This is the first of my 3-part series on the role our body image plays in self-confidence and our relationships. In this episode, I share some of my own story to illustrate how important a positive body image is for everyone.

If you’ve been hiding because you’re afraid of being judged or ridiculed, then let me tell you: When this podcast was shared widely on social media by a big-name brand, I felt joy and happiness ... and complete terror. I’ve been hiding for so long, afraid to be seen. But you know what? I was seen, and I did not die. And it hit me that life is not a straight line, and neither is the path to our wildest dreams. Instead, that path is a dance between what we really want and what we...

Getting a free pair of jeans might be good news for most people, but for me? Yeah, I freaked out! My mind started running around like a 2-year-old with a machete – untamed, unchecked, and dangerous – but I got it back on track (and disarmed!) by asking a few thoughtful questions. And then…

When I was introduced to the concept of “What feels like love?”, it blew me away. For a very long time, what felt like love to me was food. Food stopped being nourishment and became comfort and love. For me, food was survival … it was numbing the pain and hiding. Now what feels like love are forgiveness, compassion, patience, and kindness – all directed toward myself. Listen to this episode for more on that plus another powerful question to help you get unstuck.

I'm super fired up about Jillian Michael's shaming of Lizzo, and I'm super supportive of women who are ready to ignore that kind of b.s. from the diet industry and start doing things their own way. There's more to losing weight than "Eat less, move more" when shame is at the heart of the matter -- and I would know; I've been there. So listen in for some shameless ideas on how to approach your life (and, yes, your weight) in 2020.

Happy New Year! But not New Year, New You because you know I hate that. It's New Year, Same You PLUS inspiration, empowerment, and encouragement. We’re going to set 2020 on fire, and here’s how we’re going to do it…

When you invest in yourself – whether you’re investing time, attention, energy, or all three – the payback is immeasurable. My $45 investment in a 4-hour class led to a 4-figure investment in a months-long training that changed my life, my work, and my relationships forever. You can never go wrong with investing in yourself. Listen in for how my educational investments, large and small, led me from a career I liked to a business that I love.

YES! We’ve made it through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday! The holiday madness is still ramping up, but the holidays don’t have to be an emotional, physical, and financial drain. I’m here to show you how to protect yourself and stay in the holiday spirit. Listen in for ideas on challenging unrealistic expectations, alternatives to gift-giving, plus simple, easy, and affordable ways to take care of yourself this holiday.

Are you wondering how you’ll get through the holidays with your sanity intact AND without starting a war? Here are some practical solutions to three common family holiday flareups…

Many years ago, someone gave me a Gratitude Journal. At first, I didn’t fully understand what it was for or what to do, but I went on and gave it a try. Little did I know that my life was about to implode and that this gratitude practice would help me more than I could have ever imagined. Listen in for how gratitude helped me through that difficult time, the good things it can do for your body, and how it stops anxiety in its tracks.

When I had a corporate job, there were days that I worked from 7 a.m. to midnight for months. I accumulated time off, but my boss discouraged using it – a vicious cycle, and I was the fastest hamster on that Wheel of Insanity. Now I know better and have my own business, yet I can still be worn down by beliefs that cause me to doubt myself and feel less than I am. Listen in for the simple solution that brought good sense and good feelings to my hot ass mess of a week!

This wasn’t my finest moment, but I want to share it with you because it’s a good reminder that we never have any idea of what is going on within other people. Unless they tell us, we simply don’t know. So, be kind. And I know that can be hard because, clearly, I didn’t do it in this instance!

Let’s talk about letting stuff go! I used to be an emotional hoarder – I held on to grudges and clung to feelings and relationships that were clearly dead. I wasted so much time! I’ve learned that letting go of pain, forgiving myself and others, and being willing to move forward have been the best paths for me. Listen in for my stance on letting go of relationships, expectations, and unhealthy patterns, plus healing’s upward spiral and a rant on finish lines … Hint: There aren’t any!

How do you want to be remembered? For making the most money? Paying all your bills on time? Making partner faster than anyone else? Driving the nicest car? Or for something different…? Apparently my generous, kind and quiet neighbor aimed for that “something different.” I showed up for his funeral, so he wouldn’t be alone, and, well … he wasn’t. And what was said about him during the service was so wonderful, I pulled out my phone in church to jot it down and keep for later. Listen in for more.

Today is the first day of school in my neck of the woods, and I’ve been thinking about what I might tell my nieces and nephews as they go back to school. Here is the list I made for my loved ones, from Ask Questions and Be Bold to NO Cheating and Stop Competing. There are some valuable reminders for parents, too, plus 8 small words that can make a big difference.

Today I want to talk about accountability, apologizing, and forgiveness – or, as I like to call it, my Moving Forward Magic – because as humans, we have to navigate these three things on a regular basis to get through life. If we fail at any one of them, the house of cards comes crumbling down!

For my entire life, I’ve been told that I am too much: too loud, too big, too smart, too bossy, too mouthy, too blonde, too freckly. It hurt so badly that I started wanting to be smaller – physically and figuratively. But I’m just not a small person… I have a BIG personality! I have a BIG body! I have BIG energy! I have a BIG light about me! And my days of feeling bad about being BIG are over. If you’ve ever been told that you’re TOO, listen to this episode. I have a message especially for you…

In the 7+ years that I’ve been a life coach, I’ve found one thing to be absolutely true – if you change the inside, the outside will follow. Part of my new thinking came from quotations I’ve heard or seen which gave me hope and kept me going. Listen in for 13 statements that shaped this new and better way of thinking about myself, other people, and the world, plus a simple challenge that will show you just how amazing YOU are!

If judging were a full-time job, we would alllllll be billionaires. But being judgmental doesn’t pay; it costs you, instead. Judging creates drama and damages our connections to friends, family, and coworkers ... but being supportive of other people’s decisions (even when we don’t agree with them) gives everyone a chance to feel great! For a more peaceful life and stronger relationships, listen in for 3 simple things you can do instead of judging.

Some days are hard, some days are amazing, and some days just plain suck. And when we don’t allow ourselves to feel the suck – or allow other people who are having a sucky time to feel theirs – well, that just piles on more suck. So, listen in to hear three ways to effectively navigate the suck (both yours and others) and the three things that make it possible: empathy, connection, and knowing your own darkness.

When I look back, I see that everything good that’s ever come to me has been a result of being courageous, and with that courage was its sidekick, vulnerability. I wasn’t raised to be comfortable with vulnerability – quite the opposite! – but with learning and practice, now I embrace it. Listen in to find out what vulnerability is and isn’t, who you can safely be vulnerable with (and who you can’t!), what it looks like when vulnerability backfires, and how we’re all a bit like Clark Kent.

Do you find yourself reacting with panic to things that haven't happened – and may never happen? Have you noticed that you instantly jump to the worst conclusions before you have all the facts? Listen in to hear about my letter from the IRS that felt like the end of the world (but was actually no big deal), why I think we freak out first and ask questions later, and how to manage your mind so you can meet life's little surprises with the feelings you WANT to feel – such as peacefulness, happiness, and joy.

Do you dread bathing suit season? Are you tired of sitting on the sidelines and missing out on the joys of summer? I say: Stop waiting and put your bathing suit on NOW! I wear mine, and I don’t care what anyone may or may not say about it. But it wasn’t always this easy for me… Listen in to hear about the time that putting on a bathing suit sent me into panic mode and almost kept me from enjoying a really great day with my family – PLUS the two quick questions that set me free to have fun.

Every day, I think about freedom: freedom from my body, freedom from negative thoughts, freedom from the sadness I feel about myself at times, freedom from uncomfortable clothes and shoes, freedom from self-violence… …freedom to be who I am right now, in this minute, without feeling that I have to change in order to be accepted. Listen in to hear about the shocking phone call from the FBI that led to my life-changing revelation, plus 3 straightforward steps to our freedom from body hatred.

Today, let’s talk about speaking up, speaking your truth, standing up for what is right. All of these things help us take the next step forward in our lives. Listen in for stories where I spoke up for myself and for others after my Fairness button was pushed. From grade school through yesterday, I spoke up to make sure rules applied to everyone, people who behaved badly were held accountable, and mistakes were acknowledged – and then there was the time I went to battle in the bakery…

My birthday was last week, and I admit it – I’m a birthday FREAK! And I love all birthdays, not just my own (though I am slightly biased). And I see my birthday as a good time to practice mind management! If you hear “I’m old” or “My best years are past me” when you think about your birthday, listen in for fresh birthday thoughts that will have you feeling lighter and more free. Your birthday can come with more than balloons and a pizza party. Each new year can bring new opportunities and power!

Confidence is at the core of how we move through the world, whether we are lacking it or have it by the truckload. It’s something we wear every day and use to make every decision. What creates or breaks our confidence? What we believe about ourselves, what other people say about us that’s believable, what we interpret, and anything else we choose to believe. So, listen in for 6 small but powerful ways to feel better about yourself and boost your confidence by choosing to think or do differently.

When you invest in yourself – whether you’re investing time, attention, energy, or all three – the payback is immeasurable. My $45 investment in a 4-hour class led to a 4-figure investment in a months-long training that changed my life, my work, and my relationships forever. You can never go wrong with investing in yourself. Listen in for how my educational investments, large and small, led me from a career I liked to a business that I love, plus my special book club that’s starting soon.

Now that we’ve all survived January’s diet commercials and weight loss pressure, it’s time to move on to bigger and better things – LOVE! Listen in for two very different views of Valentine’s Day and ways to celebrate the holiday with little loving gestures (instead of the expensive gifts and lavish experiences encouraged by ads and our culture), plus my take on the opposite of love, the many problems it causes, and a key to dissolving your fears.

To finish out this month’s theme of New Year, Same You, I want to talk about how we get in our own way. We can be our biggest critic, which means we can also be our biggest obstacle. I want each of us to become our biggest cheerleader and supporter! To do that, we have to understand how we are blocking our energy, power, desires, and blessings. Listen in for 4 common roadblocks we put in our path AND 6 tips for clearing the way.

So, I’ve talked about letting go of expectations, understanding what we want and what’s holding us back, and how we talk to ourselves … now it’s time to show up! Showing up sounds easy, but sometimes it’s not. We often jump through a lot of hoops – coaching ourselves into it and even sometimes white-knuckling it – to make an appearance. Showing up is the most important thing you can do for yourself, and it looks different for everyone. Listen in to learn more…

This week, I continue to build on letting go of the expectations from all around us and getting to understand what we really want and what could be holding us back. Now, let’s talk about how we talk to ourselves, about ourselves, and about others … and who else is listening to us and what they’re learning from us.

Last week, I talked about smashing the “new year, new you” drum that’s beating every January and beginning to think about what you want. This week, I’m asking: What do you want? I mean really want… Do you know? Listen in to hear about how that question is often answered with the opposite of what it’s asking for, my story of feeling flawed and fat, the new way of thinking that set me free, two more helpful questions, and the next step on our January road.

We live our best lives when we decide that NOW is the time to stop waiting to live our best lives. Now is the time to dream big, get clarity, and create a path towards our destiny and purpose! Every week this month, I will be doing a podcast to help you find what you love, how to show up and get it, and how to learn to love yourself and your body so you can build courage and confidence. Listen in for what it’s all about and the challenge that’s your first step.

I recently saw something like: “It’s easy to be critical, try being complimentary.” Wow! How true, and it seems so easy! But it’s not always easy. It requires effort and practice for some of us … and by “us,” I’m including myself. But imagine putting that positivity into the world and the power it has to uplift, encourage, and inspire others. Let’s be part of the movement to spread positivity and kindness! Listen in to learn how.

Okay, we’ve made it through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday! The holiday madness is still ramping up, but the holidays don’t have to be an emotional, physical, and financial drain. I’m here to show you how to protect yourself and stay in the holiday spirit. Listen in for ideas on challenging unrealistic expectations, alternatives to gift-giving, plus simple, easy, and affordable ways to take care of yourself this holiday.

THE HOLIDAYS are upon us! It’s that time of year that’s magic, celebration, and togetherness ... and STRESS. Every year, we turn ourselves inside out from November until January. But what if I said you could enjoy the holidays and your family? That would be amazing, wouldn’t it? Well, you can! Here are 3 things you can do to have the Thanksgiving you want – and they’ll work for other gatherings, too – with many options for each, plus a game to put some fun into your family’s dysFUNction. Download your free Dysfunctional Family Bingo – Feisty Style game board at » https://www.shawnamorrow.com/thriving-for-the-holidays

November is upon us, and you know what that means – it’s time for some Gratitude! Listen in for 3 simple gratitude practices that can be life-changing, how to use gratitude to decrease or eliminate anxiety, and how knowing your top values – such as Gratitude or Fairness – can bring you peace of mind, make your life flow with more ease, and improve your understanding of other people … and yourself.

We create rules for ourselves that are not necessarily true. A lot of times, our rules (or stories or beliefs) were created when we were younger, when we had no idea that they were untrue or twisted. Our rules could be based on other people’s values, beliefs, desires, or even their jokes. Unverified rules ramble around our minds, running our lives until we make a conscious effort to look at them. Listen in for two rules that put me in a bind and the benefits of cutting myself free.

In honor of my wedding anniversary next week, here’s what I know about marriage – it’s not a lot, but it works for me! There are four things that can make or break a marriage – or any relationship. You’ve probably heard that communication and trust are everything in a marriage, and I agree with that, but there are two things for you to think about before a relationship even gets started, and they’ll make a big difference in how smoothly it goes. Listen to this week’s podcast to hear more about all four.

Have you ever judged anyone? Of course you have. And you know how I know that? Because we’re human, and humans judge! I’m not proud of it, but it’s true. Welcome to being human. Listen to today’s episode for stories of judging and being judged, a new way to look at the judgments other people try to put on you, and ten words to put between you and their expectations.

Do you have everything you want in life? Do you feel like something’s missing? A career? A relationship? A home? A family? More money? Love for your body? If the answer is no, you don’t have everything you want, then my next question is: What’s holding you back? Do you even know? Listen in for the story about stories and the facts about facts, plus how I held myself back from two things I really wanted, and two questions to ask yourself that might bring you total freedom.

People ask me all the time, “What does Find Your Feisty mean?” Feisty, to me, is all about being fun & fearless, smart & sassy. Finding your feisty is about finding your voice. Your passion. Your love. Your career. Your freedom. Your happiness. It’s about finding that place inside you that breathes a sigh of relief because you heard something that deeply resonates. It’s a community to encourage each other to reach our highest potential. And now it’s also a podcast that starts right here.