Welcome back to another episode! In the last episode, Leah talked about going into a new season and how important it is to reflect and look back as the first step of moving towards our goals.

After looking back and acknowledging how far we’ve come, we can now look forward and evaluate what our goals are and how to get there. Leah explains the importance of the DISC model and how it informs our process as we move toward our goals and how understanding it can help us lean into our natural behavior and reach those goals as our type is inclined.

Leah then explains the acronym, S.M.A.R.T., that is used for goals and how we can apply those to our plans. She also explains how that might look for each DISC type in their goal setting and the process of meeting those goals. We could think of it like a roadtrip, and Leah shares how to view it through that lens and what it might look like for each DISC type.

If you need help making and achieving your goals, Leah’s Burnout Buster Blueprint will be launching later this month and can support you on your goal setting journey! Let her know you’re a listener, and there will be a special offer for those who do!

Welcome back! It’s a new season for many with the school year starting, but it’s also a new season of the podcast!

Since it’s a new season, Leah invites you to reflect on your growth so far! Many are looking forward, as we should, but it’s also important to first look back and reflect on where we’ve been and how we got here.

Leah shares seven areas of our lives where we can look back and evaluate our growth. And once you recognize it, be sure to celebrate it! She also encourages you to share with her, so she can celebrate with you! You can do so either by email to leah@leahlittlebrown.com or on her website, leahlittlebrown.com. Leah then explains some important action steps to take with your reflection on your growth.

Now that you’ve reflected, the next part is looking forward and figuring out where you want to go. Leah shares some keys to evaluating your goals and how to get there.

If you need help moving forward and meeting those goals, she invites and encourages you to check out her Burnout Buster Blueprint that will be released later this month. You can learn more about it on Leah’s website and sign up for emails to be the first to know when it’s released!

Book reference: The Work-Life Balance Myth: Rethingking Your Optimal Balance for Success by David McNeff

Leah is back with an episode to share some of what has been going on in her life and her upcoming work in September!

She shares about her recent life events and things her family has been involved with like her daughter’s graduation as well as some changes and progress with her practice. There have also been some less fun personal matters that have consumed a lot of her time as have work related responsibilities. But, instead of letting those completely drain and burn her out, she shares how her own advice and frameworks that she has developed and polished over time have helped to get through all those things which she explains is a fascinating concept called parallel processing.

Leah continues on to share about some of the projects she’s working on; one of which is her Burnout Buster Blueprint, coming this September. If you are interested in it and want to be the first to know when it comes out, she encourages you to join her email list. She explains a little bit about what to expect and what it contains.

Also in September, Leah will be back with new podcast episodes, and she shares what she’ll be talking about and covering next. In the meantime, she encourages you to go back and listen to the top five episodes!

In this episode, Leah interviews special guest, Jessica Klassen, who is the founder of Ripple Boxes, which are encouraging Christian gift boxes.

Leah and Jessica discuss caring for others and Ripple Boxes, talking about what they are and how they bless others through who they go to, those who send them, the small businesses the items in the boxes come from, and the people who the small businesses help and support.

Jessica shares her story about wanting to make a difference in the world and reminding others of God’s love and how the Ripple Boxes came to be from this passion. She also explains her passion for helping those in trafficking and poverty and how the small businesses she works with help people with those struggles.

Leah and Jessica then discuss the progress of the company, the difference it has made, and how it has impacted many lives. Jessica also gives some advice on how to be a light and see people in a more intentional way and build relationships with them.

If you’re interested in Ripple Boxes or contacting Jessica, her website and email address are:

www.rippleboxes.com

Jessica@rippleboxes.com

Jessica is also gifting her Gratitude Journal to listeners and viewers of this podcast. To access it, follow this link:

https://www.pages.rippleboxes.com/freebie-9398-7212-4755

What is the DISC model, and what is it used for?

In this episode, Leah interviews counselor and certified coach, Michelle Kessler.

Leah and Michelle discuss the DISC model of human behavior, explaining what it is and how others use it in professional and personal settings like at work and with family and friends. Michelle shares what each letter stands for and expands on what that looks like and how it shows up in individuals. She also explains how this tool helps with understanding ourselves and others, communicating, and strengthening our connections.

They continue on to talk about how the model assists with our self awareness and our relationships, and the two explain how that might look within the family dynamic in understanding our spouses and children better which can be empowering and lead to stronger relationships. The results of understanding the model in ourselves and others may look like less conflict and stress, more connection and stability, and assistance in navigating relationships.

If you are interested in learning more about Michelle and her work, or if you are interested in working with her, her contact information is below.

Michelle Kessler

Mkesslercoaching@gmail.com

Kessler Coaching and Consulting

Music credits: Holizna - Poor, but Happy

Edited and produced by Beruna Studios - berunastudios.com

After spending some time looking at ourselves and our values, priorities, wants, and needs, Leah is shifting the focus to relating to others, relationships, and how all those things we’ve been looking at in ourselves translate and play out within our relationships.

We are wired for relationships, and there are a few key components to building and maintaining those relationships. Leah discusses the importance of curiosity, believing the best, and gratitude within relationships.

She also explains a frame of looking at our relationships like accounts, not that they’re transactional, but so we’re mindful of what we put in and receive. She expands on “deposits” and “withdrawals” and what that looks like within our relationships.

Over the next few episodes, we will continue to discuss relating to others and how the information from the last several episodes translates into our relationships.

In this episode, Leah moves on to discuss one of the influential aspects of frameworks, which is boundaries. She explains more in detail about what they are, why they’re important, and how to create and maintain them.

Boundaries are the limits that keep you and your relationships safe. In life, we have boundaries all around us in different physical forms like fences and walls and even the lines on roads. These examples all keep us safe and show us limits.

Interpersonally, boundaries provide safety for us and our relationships. They protect our time, space, and energy and are about us, not the other person. Some may see boundaries as constricting, but they’re really a safety mechanism and a basic function. When used correctly, they’re not to control others or manipulate them, but to provide safety within our relationships. They also help us know what our responsibilities are and for others to know what theirs are. They are helpful and crucial for healthy relationships.

In practice, boundaries may look like not eating certain things because they don’t make you feel good, or not drinking alcohol or rules around what you let others borrow of yours.

When creating boundaries, ask yourself what the things are that help to fulfill your wants and needs and that maintain your personal space, time, values, and needs.

Having boundaries helps our frameworks and knowing them ahead of time allows us to have those frameworks before we’re presented with a question or opportunity. They’re also important for being able to fit in those things that are important to us and the things we need to get done.

When enforcing boundaries, it’s important to use stand-up words like “I won’t” so that you can give strong, empowered answers instead of a partial yes or no. It’s kind to give a clear answer and to have those boundaries since it helps give the other person clarity on where you stand and what to expect from you.

Music credits: Holizna - Poor, but Happy

Edited and produced by Beruna Studios - berunastudios.com

In this episode, Leah discusses decision making, decision fatigue, and frameworks to lessen the toll of decisions.

In life, there are many opportunities and decisions that arise, and it can help to have “unshakeable unbreakables” or frameworks based on personal rules, values, and priorities. These frameworks can help protect you from decision fatigue, over giving and depleting your energy, and keep you oriented towards the things you want in life.

With some decisions, having personal rules makes the decision for you before you face a question, which can help take the pressure off in the moment. Taking your priorities and values to make a framework can look like personal rules, time blocking, and personal purpose statements. Time blocking helps to balance life and work, allowing for focus on specific commitments in their dedicated time block.

With personal purpose statements or personal constitutions, you can compare opportunities to what your purpose is and see how it aligns with your values and priorities and how they fit into what you want in your life. In Leah’s Burnout Buster Blueprint, she works with others to create their personal constitutions. Having your own personal purpose statement or constitution helps take the pressure off when opportunities and decisions arise, protecting you from decision fatigue and pressured yeses. You can compare opportunities to this framework and ask questions like “will this help with what I want in life or will it pull me away from where I want to go” or “does this align with my priorities?”

Having these frameworks already set in place can reduce pressure and decision fatigue while bringing relief, peace, and confidence, allowing for empowered nos and resounding yeses.