3 amazing podcasts that will inspire you to take on your goals

I'm way late to the podcast party and just discovered the amazingness of these free audio life changing tools last fall. I know a lot of people who listen to podcasts for entertainment and yes I know that Serial is addicting and so good, but I prefer to listen to them to either learn something useful, or to stay motivated and boost my confidence while I'm doing a mindless task like walking, driving, cutting/ironing fabric, or sewing.

When I discover something new and exciting I immediately go into obsessive accumulation mode and I've "discovered" and burned through soooo many podcast subscriptions.

In the spirit of making 2015 THE BEST YEAR EVER, here are my top three favorite podcasts that will inspire you to lead a more fulfilling and positive life.

Listen, be inspired, and go forth to set some goals and take action towards your dreams!

1.The Lively Show

I don't remember when or how I first discovered Jess Lively, but I immediately clicked with her blog and personality. A former creative small business owner and Chicagoan, she now lives in Austin, TX and has made it her mission to uplift and inspire other women to live intentional, values-based lives. Her podcast is hands down my number one favorite and I never miss an episode! She interviews other successful female business owners and creatives and their conversations are always so deep and inspiring. I almost always feel a click or "omg YES" moment while listening to them talk about their struggles, successes, and the resistance they've faced along the way. I love that Jess ends each interview by asking "what advice would you give someone who's just starting out on this journey?" because oh heyyy that's me! I've also picked up a gazillion little nuggets of useful business advice and learned about resources like Creative Live and Nicole's Classes through her guests!

Great for 
Creatives, new mothers, anyone who is considering starting a small business/Etsy shop/blog, women who want to live more intentionally in regards to their personal habits, relationships, home, career.

Listen to
+Redefining Pretty with Elizabeth Piper

+Increasing Our Joy with Rachel MacDonald

+Three Tips for When You Feel Overwhelmed

2.The Chalene Show

Oh Chalene Johnson. Joyful influencer. I discovered Chalene when I became involved with Beachbody last year. I worked through her goal setting book PUSH and instantly became obsessed with her energetic, tough love, positive attitude. She's a self made businesswoman, celebrity fitness trainer, social media marketing expert, life/business coach and an all around genuinely awesome lady, wife, and mother. I've had the honor of hearing her speak at The Platinum Edge conference last fall and also attended two live workouts with her that literally changed my life. She is very clear that no matter how busy or successful she might be, she always puts her husband and children first, and she's taught me how to align my life and goals based on my own true priorities (family, faith, friends). And also how to MAKE SHIT HAPPEN! I'm obsessed with her workout PiYo and one of my 2015 goals is to become a certified instructor, eek! Chalene's podcast is focused on motivation, leadership, and life coaching and will help you boost your self confidence and look at your life with a bigger sense of possibility.

Great for
Introverts! Small business owners, and anyone really, if you click with her strong personality. You must be willing and ready to turbo-charge your life ;)

Notes: The Chalene Show is best listened to while power-walking outside or at the gym.

Listen to

+Motivation and Energy On Demand

+Introvert or Extrovert? How to Overcome Shyness

+Too Scared to Try? How to Break Free From Perfectionism

3.Raise Your Hand Say Yes

I discovered Tiffany Han fairly recently, and immediately connected with her podcast and mission: to pull back the curtain on what it means to be highly creative and share your talents with others. Her focus is on interviewing creative female entrepreneurs about what it means to live an authentic and courageous life. The background behind the title is that when life hands you an opportunity, you should immediately raise your hand, say yes, and then figure it out later! It's encouraging to hear from established and successful creative professionals that it's ok to feel insecure, it's ok to dive in and learn from failure, and that you can't live your dream until you embrace the abyss and just go for it!

Great for
Creative entrepreneurs, women who feel like they "should" do something scary, anyone who wants to take a leap of faith/add value/start a blog/share their art but needs an extra boost of encouragement.

Listen to
+Erin Loechner on Saying Yes

+Lisa Congdon on Creative Evolution

+aaaand basically all of them

I hope that you connect with one of these podcasts too! Life is really short, and I encourage you to find pockets of "wasted time" while you drive, commute, or do mindless busy-work and fill your mind with uplifting stories.

No matter what you're dreaming about, I'm on your side. Let's make this our year :)

xo Anna

joy is untouched by circumstance

(source)

For quite a while I've been subscribing to (somewhat cheesy but totally awesome) motivational emails from the Brave Girls Club, a website, community, and blog dedicated to empowering women to be good to each other and themselves. Usually I delete the emails but every once in a while I'll read the message of the day, which always seems to relate perfectly to what is going on in my life. Today's email on the difference between joy and happiness hit me because I've been spending a full year now trying to figure out my path in life and learning what it takes to live in the present, have trust and faith, and connect to my true self despite constant challenges and the deep void of scary blackness that threatens to overwhelm me whenever my confidence starts to drop. Recently I have been feeling the joy because I've discovered a creative outlet that gives me purpose through knitting and painting. I've been doing pretty good lately on focusing on what is RIGHT in life versus what is WRONG.

So anyway, here's a bit of deep philosophical inspiration for your Tuesday. I hope it speaks to you too, and I also hope that it is warmer where you are than it is here in Chicago today (high of EIGHT degrees, you'll find me buried in fluffy blankets in front of the space heater all day)!

Dear Joyful Girl,

Joy is good. Did you know there is a difference between happiness and joy? This anonymous quote describes it perfectly:

"Joy is untouched by circumstance."

You see, happiness is sometimes fleeting. Joy is a state of mind -- that no matter what happens, no matter how much we had planned on a different outcome, that we will always center our lives on what is RIGHT rather than what is WRONG. We will trust the moment and the unexpected gifts that every moment holds -- even the scary, strange, and unexpectedly difficult moments. Especially those moments actually.

Even Oprah said it perfectly:

"What I know for sure is that you feel real JOY in direct proportion to how connected you are to living your truth" -- Oprah Winfrey

Living your truth means listening very closely to the very quiet voice that is constantly trying to get your attention. Living your truth means being very very still and seeking truth and beauty and goodness and small miracles all the days of your life. Living your truth means being exactly who YOU are, in spite of who and what others around you are. Living your truth is a joyful path -- a path that no circumstances can every rip you off of.

Joy can be felt anywhere, at any time, it any situation. This is the truth.

Go forward in JOY, brave girl!

xoxo

(sign up for the emails here)