Disobedient Femmes Suzanne LaGrande

I spoke with a man this week who offered me advice based on his many years of experience in “the business” . When he was first starting out, he told me that many people had helped him. Now wanted to give back. 

I believed his motivations were sincere. The problem was his help.

Ostensibly, the conversation was to help me. But he spent most of his time talking about his successes and the difficulties he experienced.

To every question I asked, he shook his head, and with the heavy side told me that as an outsider, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to do what he had done. 

According to him, I had to have certain credentials, the kind that those in the business recognized. Without them, it would be impossible for me to be taken seriously by people in “the business.” 

“But,  good luck,” he said, and I believed he meant it.

I decided to disregard everything he told me.

Not because he was wrong about what he knows. I'm sure his advice is based on the reality of his experience. I'm sure that if I did some research, I would find evidence that the obstacles he perceives are quite real. 

In the past, I have pledged allegiance to these kinds of discouraging realities. Where did they leave me?

Frustrated. Timid, Beholden to the opinions of authorities, who may be willing to share their secrets provided I follow their advice. 

Because I believed that these authorities, like this man were right, I concluded, I must not not know enough and so I discounted my own opinions,  and retooled my dreams according to the rules of their reality 

I didn't dare do anything I was likely to fail at which as it turned out, were all of the things that were worth doing. 

Here's what I now know.: To whatever extent you dare to do what you love you set into motion energies that are unpredictable and powerful. doing the things that excite and light you up, create a momentum that travels under an inside barriers and around the limitations that tell you what is and is not possible. 

In ignoring naysayers, including the voices of doubt within me, I  am giving credence what might be possible.

This may or may not give me a way around the obstacles.  But my path is not circumscribed by these obstacles, but by something else.: My visions, my desire,  the reality that I am reaching for, even if it doesn't yet exist.

The naysayers could be right. They probably are.  But, even with the reality  the “real world” on their side. I no longer care. 

The exhilaration of trying to do what no one thinks is possible, even me, teels like it's changing the so called “real world.”

It's making me feel happier. 

And it's making me braver than I've been in a long time. 

It’s one clear indication that I am indeed on my way to becoming a real badass.

P.S. 

I’ve created a kind of compass for helping myself discern what advice I will take in and what advice I will disregard.  I’ve included some of the questions I ask myself.

I’ve also included a template for you to use to create your very own compass too.  Download it below.

Compass of Discernment

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.disobedientfemmes.com

In this episode of Disobedient Femmes, Suzanne LaGrande speaks with stylist and founder of Have a Stylegasm, Jennifer Koch. They discuss:

What style is and how it’s connected to how you showing up and being visible

What a stylist does and why fashion matters

How style doesn’t necessarily require spending a lot of money and her “Shop Your Closet” Workshop

How she incorporates energy work into her work with her clients

How style can promote self acceptance and greater appreciation of the body you have

To find out more about Jennifer Koch’s work, visit her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haveastylegasm/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.disobedientfemmes.com

In this episode of  Disobedient Femmes, Suzanne LaGrande speaks with social media  and personal branding photographer Julia Mae Hunt. Among other things,   Suzanne and Julia discuss:

How taking a photograph makes you vulnerable

What social media photography is

How storytelling is part of both photojournalism and social branding photography

The surprising ways having your picture taken can help you to develop confidence

The kinds of simple changes that over time can make a big difference in physical health as well as emotional emotional well-being

How changes in lifestyle and eating habits have to be enjoyable to be sustainable

How emotional eating needs to be understood and addressed

The importance of loving your body regardless of weight

To find out more about  Julia’s work visit:https://www.juliamaephotography.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.disobedientfemmes.com

In this episode of  Disobedient Femmes, Suzanne LaGrande speaks with women’s weight loss and body love coach, Sarah Hass.  Suzanne and Sarah discuss:

How Sarah’s son’s diagnosis of childhood diabetes started her on the path to building a healthy lifestyle for her family

The kinds of simple changes that over time can make a big difference in physical health as well as emotional emotional well-being

How changes in lifestyle and eating habits have to be enjoyable to be sustainable

How emotional eating needs to be understood and addressed

The importance of loving your body regardless of weight

To find out more about Sarah’s work visit:

https://sarahhaaswellness.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.disobedientfemmes.com

How can pleasure lead us to greater personal power?
In this episode of The Shaman’s Notebook, leading sexuality and embodiment coach, Grace Willow talks about the journey that led her to heal herself and then develop the tools and experiences to heal others.
In the interview Grace talks about:
Barely surviving a car accident where she suffered a traumatic brain injury, and a whole host of other problems that left her unable to care for her young daughter, work, or function in her daily life.
The energy healing that turned everything around helped her to awaken and remember her own healing powers.
The importance of pleasure in being able to heal and thrive
What embodiment means
Holding a higher vision and helping those she works with remember their true selves
For more about Grace’s work, visit:gracejwillow.com
For more interviews, kickass women writers, artists, healers, and activists, subscribe to the Disobedient Femmes Podcast at the link below.
Join me on Fridays at the Healing Salon where I free workshops in craft magic and other healing arts https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehealingsalon (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehealingsalon).
For even more about me, as well as strange, mostly true stories and magic spells visit me at http://suzannelagrande.com/ (suzannelagrande.com)

Thanks so much for listening!
★☆★ CONNECT WITH ME ★☆★
Website ➜ https://www.suzannelagrande.com/ (https://www.suzannelagrande.com/)
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Original theme music composed by Edward Givens. For more about his work, visit: https://edwardgivens.bandcamp.com/ (https://edwardgivens.bandcamp.com/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.disobedientfemmes.com

How do brief encounters with strangers change us?
In this episode of Disobedient Femmes, I speak with essayist, teacher, and editor Colleen Kinder who has just published Letter to a Stranger: Essays to the Ones Who Haunt Us.
In the interview, Ms. Kinder talks about:
How she came up with the idea to do a book of letters about encounters with strangers from a meeting with Pico Iyer
The different ways someone may be considered a stranger
Travel writing vs. stories of place
Why sometimes we are able to tell truths to strangers that we may not tell to people who know us well
How brief encounters with people who don't know well or at all can profoundly change our lives
For more about Colleen Kinder’s work visit https://www.offassignment.com/ and http://www.colleenkinder.com/
For more interviews, kickass women writers, artists, healers, and activists, subscribe to the Disobedient Femmes Podcast at the link below.
Join me on Fridays at the Healing Salon where I free workshops in craft magic and other healing arts https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehealingsalon (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehealingsalon).
For even more about me, as well as strange, mostly true stories and magic spells visit me at http://suzannelagrande.com/ (suzannelagrande.com)

Thanks so much for listening!
★☆★ CONNECT WITH ME ★☆★
Website ➜ https://www.suzannelagrande.com/ (https://www.suzannelagrande.com/)
Podcast ➜https://www.shamansnotebook.com/ (https://www.shamansnotebook.com/)
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehealingsalon (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehealingsalon)
Instagram ➜https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_lagrande/ (https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_lagrande/)
Pinterest ➜ https://www.pinterest.com/suzannelagrande/ (https://www.pinterest.com/suzannelagrande/)
Original theme music composed by Edward Givens. For more about his work, visit: https://edwardgivens.bandcamp.com/ (https://edwardgivens.bandcamp.com/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.disobedientfemmes.com