The Shake Up List: 99 Daring Ways to Live Life Differently

To break free from monotony and stagnation, it is essential to engage in new experiences, meet new people, and expose ourselves to different ideas and activities. This concept is central to the discussion in the podcast episode, where Tonya Leigh emphasizes the importance of shaking things up in our lives to foster personal growth and transformation.

Tonya explores the theme of breaking free from the monotony of everyday life. She acknowledges the feelings of being in a rut that many women experience, even when life seems perfectly fine on the surface. She emphasizes the importance of shaking things up to step into new possibilities and change and discusses how repetitive routines can solidify a self-image that keeps us stuck.

Join Tonya as she invites you to embrace change and discover new ways to invigorate your life.

Talking Points:

00:42 - Embracing Change and Possibilities 03:01 - Balancing Routine with New Challenges 04:15 -The Shake Up List 08:00 - The Benefits of Unplugged Time 11:03 - Experimenting with New Approaches 14:08 - Following Curiosity  20:26 - Creative Momentum  22:45 - Empowering Yourself to Shake Things Up

Quotes:

"Shaking up your life is doing things differently."

"I've realized that my best ideas and biggest breakthroughs often come when I'm not actively pursuing them."

"Follow your curiosity. Follow what lights you up. Follow those little glimmers."

"Something within me, my intuition spoke to me and said, yes, this is the next step for you."

"There's nothing like a party to shake up your life."

"The truth is we all have the power to shake up our lives at any moment."

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Transform Your Year with Intentional Living

Choosing a "Word of the Year" is a powerful practice that can significantly enhance personal development and focus intentions throughout the year. This concept, as discussed in the podcast episode, revolves around selecting a single word that embodies the qualities and aspirations one wishes to cultivate in their life. 

Host Tonya Leigh reflects on the transformative power of simplifying life to create more meaningful experiences. After feeling overwhelmed by a packed schedule and material possessions, she poses a pivotal question: "What if I could do less but better?" This introspection leads her to select a guiding word for the year that embodies elegance, intentionality, and refined living. Tonya shares her journey of unplugging from work during the holidays, highlighting the importance of renewal and self-care.

Join her as she explores the art of pursuing a beautiful life through intentional choices and a focus on quality over quantity.

Talking Points:

00:31 - The Transformative Question 02:09 - Reflecting on Last Year 03:03 - Choosing the Word of the Year 04:08 - Importance of Deep Reflection 07:07 - Turning Frustrations into Opportunities 08:02 - The Concept of Essentialism 10:10 - Greg McCowan's Book on Essentialism 12:08 - The Impact of Too Many Choices 15:00 - Behind the Scenes of a Successful Business 17:01 - Applying Essentialism to All Areas of Life 17:55 - Questions for Exploring Essentialism

Quotes:

"What if I could do less but better?"

"I made all of those decisions that led to me being in this moment with a lot of things to get done today."

"Last year's frustrations are this year's opportunities."

"It isn't about deprivation. It's about elevation. It's the art of elegant elimination."

"Luxury is different for all of us. It does not mean designer handbags. It's a feeling."

"There's something about this word that has convicted me at the deepest, deepest level."

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Looking Back, Living Now, and Celebrating the Future: A New Year’s Practice

The "champagne mindset" is a transformative approach to life that encourages individuals to celebrate not only their successes but also the challenges they face. This mindset is rooted in the understanding that both victories and obstacles are essential components of personal growth and resilience.

As we welcome the year 2025, Tonya shares her personal New Year's tradition of celebrating intentionally, emphasizing the importance of rewiring our brains to focus on positivity and possibility. She explains how our thoughts shape our focus and, ultimately, our lives. By embracing the champagne mindset, which combines celebration with resilience, listeners are encouraged to seek out extraordinary moments in everyday life and to celebrate both challenges and victories.

Tune in to discover how this mindset can shift your perspective and enhance your journey towards your biggest goals.

Talking Points:

00:41 - Reflecting on the Past Year 02:06 - Defining the Champagne Mindset 04:14 - Growth Through Challenges 06:00 - Authentic Goals and Self-Image 07:04 - Celebrating the Past 08:09 - Celebrating the Present 09:40 - The Science of Focus and Abundance 12:23 - The Be-Do-Have Model 14:09 - Taking Control of Your Story 15:03 - Celebrating the Future 19:00 - Aligning Actions with Future Success 20:06 - The Champagne Mindset in Practice 21:40 - Writing and Editing Your Life Story

Quotes:

"I call this the champagne mindset. It is an approach to life that combines celebration with resilience."

"To create something you've never had, you have to become someone you've never been."

"The more you celebrate life, the more life celebrates you."

"You have to take control of your story. You have to take control of your narrative."

"The brain has a difficulty distinguishing between vivid imagination and reality."

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Embracing Enoughness: Transforming Your Mindset This Holiday Season

An abundant self-image is fundamentally rooted in the belief that one's worth is expansive, regenerative, and independent of external validation or accomplishments. This perspective shifts the focus from a scarcity mindset—where individuals often feel inadequate or insufficient—to an empowering understanding of self-worth that is inherent and limitless.

In this special Christmas Day episode of the School of Self-Image, host Tonya Leigh shares her heartfelt reflections on abundance and gratitude. After a morning of journaling, Tonya expresses her desire for every woman to experience the overwhelming joy she felt while making her morning coffee. Instead of a tangible gift, she emphasizes the importance of a mindset shift, proposing that the greatest gift she can offer is an abundant self-image. Join Tonya as she dives into the transformative power of self-perception and how it can lead to a more fulfilling life.

Happy holidays!

Talking Points:

00:32 - Christmas Day Reflections 01:26 - The Gift of an Abundant Self-Image 02:08 - Understanding Scarcity Mindset 03:01 - Shifting Focus to Abundance 05:57 - Physical Presence and Self-Image 07:02 - Relationships and Boundaries 09:29 - Expressing Needs  11:21 - Holding Multiple Truths 13:27 - Trusting Intuition  14:12 - Taking Risks Without Guarantees 16:09 - Aligning Opportunities with Values 18:38 - Spending with an Abundant Mindset 19:09 - Generosity Without Depletion 20:04 - New Year Wishes

Quotes:

"If I could walk up to your door, knock on it and give you a box and you open it, this year I would want that gift to be an abundant self image."

"To me, they are proving the enoughness that I am wanting, that I am looking for."

"An abundant self-image is you having the understanding of what you need and articulating that in a way that others then understand it."

"Choosing based on what lights you up. That's such an abundant energy."

"To me, it's also about investing in your personal growth without needing to justify every penny."

"An abundant self-image is a woman who sees herself as enough, who sees the world as having enough, and who shows up in that state of enoughness."

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From Postpartum Struggles to Unstoppable Confidence: A Conversation with Ellison Ward

The significance of setting small, achievable goals emerges as a vital strategy for fostering confidence and momentum in personal development in this candid coversation with Ellison Ward. Ellison shares her transformative journey from feeling overwhelmed and trapped in a cycle of inactivity to embracing incremental changes that reshaped her life.

Tonya Leigh welcomes Ellison Ward to discuss the transformative power of reinvention. Ellison shares her personal journey of overcoming postpartum depression and the struggles she faced in rediscovering herself. Tonya and Ellison explore the importance of community and support during times of change, highlighting how the School of Self-Image has played a pivotal role in Ellison's transformation. This episode offers inspiration and practical insights for women looking to embrace their own journeys of self-reinvention. Tune in to hear Ellison's remarkable story and learn how you too can embark on the path to rediscovery and empowerment.

Talking Points:

00:31 - Ellison Ward's After Story 01:02 - Meeting Ellison in London 01:22 - Ellison's Background and Struggles 04:09 - The Challenge of Taking the First Step 04:47 - Overwhelmed and Anxious Feelings 07:48 - Advice for Women Feeling Stuck 10:12 - Building Confidence Through Small Wins 11:06 - The Importance of Community 13:08 - Identifying Limiting Beliefs 14:02 - Overcoming People-Pleasing 16:19 - Influence of Ellison's Grandmother 17:01 - Shifting Focus from Past to Future 19:34 - Echo Effect of Achieving One Goal 23:07 - Focusing on Energy and Health 24:58 - Enjoying Life's Pleasures 25:47 - Mastering Your Day 26:33 - Gratitude and Future Plans

Quotes:

"I thought, sink or swim, I gotta do this. There's no excuse."

"I set small goals... those small goals get you to the big, and then you don't feel overwhelmed."

"You just need one person in your life that offers you a possibility that you never thought would be possible."

"Sometimes they want to fight with me on it. And I'm like, listen, you're going to thank me later."

"If you want to master your life, master your day."

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Never Say Never: Rediscovering Joy in Everyday Moments

Visualization is a powerful tool that can shape our reality by guiding us toward opportunities and success. By holding positive visions in our minds and allowing our brains to filter relevant information, we can create a pathway to achieving our dreams. Tonya Leigh's insights remind us that the journey is just as important as the destination, and by embracing the process with patience and excitement, we can manifest the life we desire.

She shares her five biggest lessons from 2024 and emphasizes the importance of taking time to assess the past year and intentionally plan for the future, highlighting the significance of visualization as a tool for shaping reality. Tonya discusses her recent experiences while working on her upcoming membership and the annual workshop, The Curated Year, where members come together to plan and learn from their past. Join her for insightful reflections and practical takeaways to carry into the next year!

Talking Points:

00:35 - Tonya's Five Biggest Lessons of 2024 01:08 - Annual Workshop: The Curated Year 01:29 - Reflecting on Last Year's Lessons 01:51 - The Power of Visualization 05:05 - Never Say Never 09:02 - Patience and Playing the Long Game 14:21 - Knowing Your Core Values 16:30 - It's Never as Hard as You Think 21:08 - It's Okay for People to Be Upset 24:34 - Looking Forward to New Lessons

Quotes:

"Dreaming and visualizing aren't just wishful thinking. They're powerful tools for shaping your reality."

"There is power to visualizing what it is that you want and then letting go of how or if it's going to happen."

"Life isn’t linear. It’s more cyclical. You may find yourself coming back to parts of yourself that you thought were long gone, but you’ve missed."

"If you find yourself out of alignment, I want you to think about, do you know what your core values are?"

"I want to see myself as capable of doing hard things and being a woman who is true to herself, who's authentic."

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From Overwhelm to Calm: Redefining Your Holiday Season

The holiday season often brings a whirlwind of activities, expectations, and societal pressures that can lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress. However, by embracing the concept of holiday essentialism, you can transform your experience into one that is joyful and fulfilling. This approach encourages you to focus on what truly brings you joy while letting go of obligations that do not serve you.

Inspired by Greg McCowan's book "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less," which encourages focusing on fewer but more meaningful activities, Tonya challenges listeners to ask themselves three key questions:

1. What truly brings them joy during the holidays?
2. What activities they do out of obligation?
3. What memories they want to create?

She discusses the societal expectations that can turn what should be a joyful time into a marathon of obligations. Tune in to discover how to shift your mindset and focus on what truly matters this holiday season, embracing the simple joys and calm instead of the chaos.

Talking Points:

01:09 - Holiday Overwhelm and Societal Pressures 02:13 - Fear of Disappointing Others  04:36 - What is Essentialism? 05:39 - Question 1: What Truly Brings Me Joy? 06:34 - Question 2: What Am I Doing Just Because I Think I Have To? 07:50 - Question 3: What Memories Do I Want to Create? 08:33 - Shifting from Excess to Intention 09:55 - Editing Ruthlessly 14:06 - Mindfulness and Being Present 17:02 - Secret Santa and Charitable Giving 18:04 - Simplifying the Holidays 23:10 - Setting Boundaries for Social Commitments 24:03 - Prioritizing Connection Over Perfection 24:13 - Setting Intentions for the Holiday Season

Quotes:

"If holidays are not your thing, especially around this time of year, I challenge you to skip it altogether."

"The shift in mindset with holiday essentialism is to move from access to intention and from pleasing others to cherishing moments."

"Just because you've done something for years doesn't mean you have to continue doing it."

"The holidays are not a performance and you don't have to be performative."

"Shed the souffle. Seriously, let her go. You don't need to do it."

"What people remember is how you made them feel."

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Finding Joy in Life's Challenges: The Uncommon Gratitude Practice

In our daily lives, we often encounter individuals who trigger strong emotional responses in us—whether it’s frustration, anger, or discomfort. The common reaction is to distance ourselves from these people, believing that cutting them out will provide relief. However, as discussed in the podcast episode, this approach may lead to missed opportunities for profound personal growth.

In this episode of the School of Self-Image, host Tonya Leigh explores the profound lessons that can be learned from the things we often take for granted, complain about, or try to avoid in our daily lives. As Thanksgiving approaches, Tonya emphasizes the importance of gratitude and celebration, arguing that these practices should extend beyond just one day a year. She reflects on how embracing gratitude has been a transformative principle in her life, helping her navigate challenges and create a life she loves. Drawing from a recent workshop, she shares insights on staying connected to our celebrations, highlighting how they can foster personal growth and joy. Join Tonya as she invites listeners to recognize and appreciate the unexpected sources of wisdom in their lives.

Talking Points:

00:40 - Thanksgiving and Gratitude

02:06 - The Power of Celebration

03:11 - Practicing Gratitude in Hard Times

03:43 - People Who Trigger Us

07:04 - Learning from Triggers

10:06 - Embracing Failures

12:35 -Daily Annoyances

16:00 - Future Gratitude

22:34 - Showing Up for Your Dreams

Quotes:

"Gratitude has become a practice that I especially use during my hardest times."

"I have come to view these people as my biggest teachers. I like to call them my pets. They're my personal emotional trainers."

"I think the answer is to lean into it so we can learn from it and grow from it."

"A lot of the lessons that we need to learn are going to be learned in the mistakes, not in the successes."

"The next time you're annoyed, just ask yourself, is there anything in this that I could be grateful for?"

"I have found that the anticipation is even better than the arrival."

"If you come across just one podcast and you learn something that changes your life, I will feel like I have served my mission in life."

"Be a woman who shows up for her dreams."

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Reclaim Your Time, Avoid Distractions, and Boost Productivity.

Distraction is often viewed as an external issue, something that occurs due to our environment, technology, or other people. However, as discussed in the podcast episode, the reality is that distraction is primarily a mental challenge. In fact, it is stated that 90% of distractions stem from our own thoughts rather than external factors. This insight is crucial for anyone looking to improve their focus and productivity.

Host and Master Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh delves into the pervasive issue of distraction and its impact on productivity. Research indicates that the average person loses nearly four hours each day to interruptions, but Tonya shares her insights on how distraction can be managed rather than succumbed to. She introduces five effective strategies she practices to enhance focus, derived from her personal journey of transformation from a scattered individual to someone who achieves remarkable results. As we approach the holidays, Tonya reflects on her experiences in 2024, expressing gratitude for the lessons learned and the growth achieved, emphasizing the profound influence of self-image on all areas of life. 

Tune in for valuable insights that can help you navigate distractions and elevate your self-image for a more fulfilling life.

Talking Points:

00:49 - Holiday Greetings and Reflections 01:10 - Gratitude for 2024 and Excitement for 2025 02:31 - Self-Image and Humanity 03:46 - Observations and Commands to the Brain 11:20 - The Value of Attention 12:14 - The Real Cost of Distractions 14:03 - What Could You Do with 1500 Hours? 16:14 - Reclaiming Lost Time 19:03 - Breaking Down Plans into Actionable Results 22:22 - Emotional Responses to Distractions 25:08 - Understanding the Root of Distractions 26:26 - Examining the Cost of Distractions 30:04 - Personal Power and Focus 34:08 - Handling Distractions When They Occur

Quotes:

"It's the failures that teach us the most."

"Attention in this day and age is our most valuable commodity, and yet it's something that we do not guard often enough."

"What could you do with 1500 hours?"

"The question isn't whether you have the time, the question is, what are you going to do to reclaim it?"

"What do we need to feel in order to put our phones away and be present with each other?"

"Every focused moment is a vote for who I'm becoming."

"Those moments are meant to teach you, they're meant to grow you, and they're meant to help you become less distracted."

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Calm, Cool, and Connected: Embracing a New State of Being

One of the most crucial decisions we make daily is what she refers to as the "B decision." This decision centers on consciously choosing who we want to be in any given moment, regardless of the external circumstances we face.

Host Tonya Leigh dives into the concept of the "B decision," which focuses on the essential question we should ask ourselves: "Who do I want to be right now?" Tonya highlights the importance of this decision in shaping our experiences and handling life's challenges. She reflects on the anxiety and frustration many people feel when they rely on external circumstances to dictate their state of being. Using a personal story from her recent trip to New York City, she illustrates how life’s unpredictability can impact our emotions but emphasizes that we have the power to choose our responses. Tune in to explore how embracing the B decision can transform your mindset and lead to a more fulfilling life.

Talking Points:

01:09 - The Importance of the B Decision 02:02 - Life's Unpredictability 03:06 - Conscious Choice of Emotions 04:10 - Balancing Professional and Personal Life 05:02 - Energy and Thoughts 05:45 - Trapped by External Changes 06:37 - Default Settings and Triggers 08:44 - Responding to Crisis 10:09 - Energy Shifts and Influence 11:56 - The Self-Image Pause 13:48 - Purposeful Emotional Choices 16:29 - Ripple Effect of Being 20:05 - Curiosity vs. Judgment 24:00 - Life Improvements Through Being 25:04 - Benefits of Calmness 25:36 - Calm, Cool, and Connected

Quotes:

"I asked myself, who do I want to be in this moment with nothing outside of me changing?"

"Your beingness is the energy, the predominant energy that you are embodying in any given moment."

"But you tell your brain, here's what we're doing. This is who we're being."

 "I am becoming someone who takes immediate action."

"Every thought you think and every action that you take is a vote for who you want to be."

"I don't need the world to be different in order for me to be different. But when I be different, the world does change."

Useful  Resources:

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Transforming Your Life with Intentional Language

Words have more power than we give them credit for, not only in copywritting but in our everyday lives.  This discussion revolves around the profound impact that words have on our mindset and actions. One of the key takeaways is the transformative power of shifting our language from "I want" to "I am." This simple change can significantly alter how we perceive our aspirations and ultimately influence our behaviors.

Host Tonya Leigh welcomes special guest Jamie Palko, the behind-the-scenes copywriter for the School of Self-Image. Jamie shares her journey back to copywriting, highlighting the power of setting clear goals and the excitement of reconnecting with her passion. The conversation reflects on the serendipitous moments that brought Jamie to the podcast, where she first learned about the School of Self-Image. Join them as they explore the magic of wordsmithing and how it has brought them together in this full circle moment.

Talking Points:

00:10 - Jamie's Full Circle Moment 01:32 - Jamie's Journey Back to Copywriting 02:23 - The Power of Words 04:55 - Transitioning Between Projects 05:16 - The Role of a Copywriter in Content Creation 05:47 - The Impact of Words on Personal Life 08:35 - The Shift from "I Want" to "I Am" 10:35 - The Energy of Words 12:17 - Words Carry Energy and Meaning 13:00 - The Pygmalion Effect and Setting Expectations 14:47 - Reframing Nervousness as Excitement 16:47 - Teaching Mindset to Children 19:05 - Speaking from Your Future Self 20:02 - Overused Words: Should and Overwhelmed 23:19 - Shifitng "Have to" to "Get to" 28:38 - Practicing New Ways of Speaking 32:47 - The Power of Words in Creating Your Life

Quotes:

"I really do feel like those words that I spoke to myself and wrote that down and really sort of lived and breathed those for those couple of months made this happen."

 "Two little words, so much just deleting them gave me so much relief."

 "You've planted her in this small pot. And you need to plant her in the forest and let her grow with the words you use."

"Stop "should-ing" all over yourself."

"Your words are creating your life and they're very, very powerful."

"It was lovely to have this time talking to you and introducing myself to the world."

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