Have you ever thought the words: "What exactly is my purpose?" It's a question Sonia Adams has dedicated her life to. Sonia is an inspirational speaker, author, and founder of Blossoming Vines Ministries, Inc. a non-profit 501c3 whose mission is “Helping women ‘Blossom’ in their lives and extend their reach to others." She inspires others by sharing principles that provoke purpose and helps people walk in theirs. She gives unique insight and a relevant perspective to her speaking and writing. Her wisdom crushes the barriers that keep women from receiving physical, mental, and spiritual healing. She has a passion to help women pursue and fully walk in their purpose. It’s through her journey, trials, process, and tears she has come to a resolve to be authentically herself. On today's episode, we chat PURPOSE and stepping into it. Author, I Am Pretty soniaadams.comFounder and CEO, Blossoming Vines MinistriesWebsite:  www.blossomingvines.com

Control Freak

52: Finding your PURPOSE with Sonia Adams

I had SUCH a great conversation with one of my friends & business partners Dani Stoller this week. **WARNING: F Bombs are dropped.We are talking about the Body Positivity Movement + how there is a lack of clarity on it. I was telling Dani how I am OBSESSED with how people are truly embracing their bodies and loving the skin they are in- but I am finding that it's also causing a lot of confusion. Should I NOT want to lose weight? Should I NOT care what I am eating? Should I NOT post or share about how far I've come physically? I personally was feeling shame and the need to explain myself for every transformation photo I posted, saying things like: “I loved my body before, I was proud before… etc” When really, I was just feeling guilty for wanting change in a world where everyone is telling me to be happy with where I am. It's confusing- so I asked Dani to help me explain this concept to all of you. I'm excited to hear your feedback.

51: (REAL TALK) Clarity on the Body Positivity Movement with Dani Stoller

There was a time in my life where I had to get approval to get my hair done.It sounds so insane but it was my truth. As a news reporter, looks mattered. You can’t just go from blonde to brown overnight or cut all of your hair off on a Tuesday. Your boss had a say, even the viewers had a say (they let you know if they liked what you looked like or not). It didn’t matter if you needed a change or wanted to try something new. “It’s the profession you chose”, they would tell me.The truth being, the profession I chose was nothing like I imagined it would be and it was stripping every ounce of who I thought I was the longer I stayed in it.The moment I decided to leave and pursue a career that pushed me toward being my authentic self, I was faced with an entirely new challenge. Who was I now? What did I like?Once I got married and moved to Charlotte, I started to navigate that question. I pierced my nose first and that felt REALLY good. I always wanted to do that. Then I had pink hair for a while, added some purple and blues, did a little bit of red, bleach blonde- I went crazy in all of the right ways. I did what felt right and cool to me at each appointment. Not asking anyone’s permission, often surprising my husband with my new do every time I walk through the door. ?I still do that, to this day and while the bright colors faded in this season- I am still doing what feels right to me.Today includes super short hair, natural- yet with easy highlights. While I’m constantly changing, it feels like THIS current version of me and I LOVE it.

50: (CAR CHATS) Asking for PERMISSION to be yourself- it's kind of BS

You know how you can give someone some REALLY good advice and meanwhile, it's actually what YOU need to hear? That happened to me recently. It was a conversation I had with a friend on my team thats also newly postpartum. I found myself finding words to comfort her and inspire her and before I knew it, it CLICKED for me. The entire last seven months of being a new mom, all of the emotions I was feeling, the anxiety and depression that snuck in, well it just MADE SENSE all of the sudden when I was giving HER advice. The truth is, every single one of us are going through life transitions constantly and with those transitions comes CHANGE. Not just in the world around us, but inside of us. In this episode, I'll share what I am slowly starting to learn about us women as life changes and how we handle it. Then, I'm going to give you permission to BREATHE and get through it. Sound good? Lets go! 

49: (REAL TALK) Are you chasing a version of yourself that no longer exists?

Hey ya'll! After a MUCH needed break from podcasting so that I could figure out this new life of mine, I am back- rebranded- and excited. This episode tells you where I've been, where my mindset is going forward, and what you can expect. Welcome back! 

48: (QUICK HIT) Hey, is this thing on?

Through her own personal challenges, Dr. Lindsey Elmore discovered Chinese medicine, herbal medicines, supplement, vitamins and mineral, chiropractic care, and yoga and meditation and this started her on a natural wellness journey. Her whole world turned upside down when she discovered essential oils. She has spent years applying the knowledge of a pharmacist to the practice of essential oil usage.In this interview, Dr. Elmore and I chat about HOLISTIC health and how TRUE health is not just physical- but mental too. We talk about how essential oils can help with some of the things we struggle with most. Join Dr. Elmore on her journey: @lindseyelmore on Facebook and Instagram, @drlindseyelmore on Pinterest, and online at www.lindseyelmore.com

047: The power of HOLISTIC health & essential oils with Dr. Lindsey Elmore

There is a stigma around this topic. It's one of those things that we all seem to know a lot about but at the same time, something that isn't talked about nearly enough. So I am using my platform to do MY part and it starts with sharing MY story. I've dealt with depression dating all of the way back to the 5th grade. Anxiety began sneaking in after college and I have been fighting both constantly ever since. In this podcast, I share my story from my past, the challenges I've gone through- and I even share the struggles I've been facing in the last 3-4 months due to this pandemic. I hope this podcast inspires you to work through whatever storm you're currently facing and how getting THROUGH depression and anxiety is a constant journey- and a decision. *If you are someone struggling with depression and are considering harming yourself, PLEASE please get help. 

046: Lets talk DEPRESSION & ANXIETY

The other night on our anniversary, my husband and I decided to watch our wedding video. Something that came out of his mouth got me thinking. He said: "That's the one day where nothing else matters." Its true. Your wedding day, you're not thinking about anything else except the wedding, your significant other, and the people you're surrounded with. You're not watching the news, consuming, scrolling social media. You're TRULY present. Nothing else matters. That thought sparked this episode which leads me to reflecting on our wedding day, our infertility journey one year ago, and looking for more ways to have MORE days where nothing else matters.

045: Having more days where NOTHING ELSE matters

Confessions of a former chronic quitter: Not giving up is a mindset. It wasn’t one that came naturally to me (obviously). But lucky for me- it was a mindset that I worked super hard on to adopt. I had to change my language from things like: “This is harder than it should be.”“Why is this taking so long?”“I’m getting no where.”“I can’t do this.”to…. “I will either find a way or make one.”“Every problem has a solution.”“I will find a way through this.”In today’s episode, I’m sharing the REAL problem with constantly having to start over. I’ll help you understand that your reason for quitting will NEVER be stronger than the reason to start, and I’ll give you some tactical tips to keep you moving forward when it’s super easy not to. 

044: Your reason for giving up will NEVER be stronger than the reason you start

As an enneagram three, I pride myself on how hard of a worker I am. Heck, going into my due date- I had two months of newsletters scheduled and two months of podcasts recorded and ready. Then all of the sudden, she was born. The scheduled stuff eventually came to an end and I realized that "holy shit, I'm a new mom" and all of the sudden- it kicked in. I wasn't just a full time CEO and wife anymore. I have a tiny little human counting on me and ya'll- her schedule is SO unpredictable. So in the last 12 weeks of her being in this world, I've been trying to navigate how to balance it all while feeling like I am failing at every single second. I could pretend its not happening and throw a super inspirational message at you today- OR I could be a human being and be honest with you guys. I'm doing my best and I know this is just a season and I will get through it and figure it out eventually. Right now in this one, I need to be realistic. I am going to focus on the things that I CAN control. In this episode, learn what I am doing to adjust to this new season. 

043: What to do when you're failing MISERABLY

Mia Hewett has co-owned and operated a seven-figure business, is an international speaker, and a world-class business coach. Mia is the founder of Aligned IntelligenceTM, a methodology that removes all blind spots, fear, anxiety, and self-doubt leaving you feeling "free to be Me.” This allows her clients to stop secretly struggling and live in alignment with their dreams so that they can scale to 6 and 7-figures the fast way.When Mia was in her thirties she had a multi-million dollar company, happy kids, and a gorgeous house, but still didn’t feel like she wasn’t good enough. So she read every personal development book she could get her hands on. She took every course, paid to be in the VIP sections, and hired some of the best coaches in the world, but no one could help her figure out what she was missing. She realized that the answer wasn’t outside of herself at all, but in her. What she discovered is that she had been trying to solve it all through her mind and what she uncovered is that she needed to heal the emotional side of herself. When we don’t heal the emotional side of ourselves we limit our intellect because we can’t think greater than how we feel.Mia has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs who've always known they were meant for more and she is sharing all her secrets in her new book, “Meant For More.” The book explains how to stop secretly struggling, awaken your full potential, and discover the Truth about who you really are. RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW: Find Mia: www.miahewett.comInstagram: mia.hewettFree Book: http://miameantformorebook.com/Password: Freebook 

042: Healing and Identifying Trauma + working through Imposter Syndrome with Mia Hewett

On today’s episode, we are talking all about Emotional Eating. I got to chat with Jessica Procini, an Emotional Eating Healer and the founder of Escape From Emotional Eating, who is on a mission to help others use food as fuel rather than a way to cope or escape their crazy lives. She consciously created and specifically designed Escape From Emotional Eating from over a decade of research and her own emotional eating journey. Now being 100% free from her compulsions with food, she helps others do the same.On this episode we chat about what emotional eating is, the roots of emotional eating, and what you can do TODAY to start the healing process and restore your relationship with food. Find Jessica: escapefromemotionaleating.com Instagram: @jessprocini Facebook: /jprocini 

041: Escape from Emotional Eating with Jessica Procini

There is nothing like having a kid and being alive during a worldwide pandemic that makes you realize you need to get your shit together in the financial department.AM I RIGHT?I’ve been asking God for more than a year to help us in this department, asking for Him to give me peace, and help me create a plan to get our family on track financially. To me, that meant creating a plan to get us out of debt- which we have been working religiously on for years. But because all of our focus was there, we didn’t have much of a savings at all. And when this pandemic started, I began to realize how uncomfortable that made me.The day we brought our daughter home from the hospital was the day North Carolina’s stay at home orders went into effect. All of the sudden, four vacations that were going to cost us significant money were cancelled right off the bat. Hotels and tickets were refunded. Student loans went into forbearance, interest rates went away on certain loans, restaurants, bars, and anything we would do for fun closed down. It was like God was looking at me and saying, “here is your blank slate. What are you going to do with it?”In the last five weeks (While I worked VERY limited hours with a newborn, mind you) I printed off a budget. Wrote out ALL of our bills, set my intentions, made a plan, and made a decision to take a month off of debt and get our family AHEAD in April. That consisted of not ordering out and only spending money on what was needed (groceries + bills).With that decision, we have made MAJOR moves.

040: How we used the quarantine to get ahead on our finances

The truth is, nothing about the last 7 weeks (hell, last 11 months) has been easy. My mindset has been through a royal beating, my body has experienced something so magical- but yet so hard. Every second of it has been worth it.⁣⁣I have a ways to go, but I’m not in any rush. I’m taking this one day at a time and doing my best to enjoy the process- even when it’s hard.⁣⁣Having a daughter puts this journey into such a new perspective. She is watching my every move and while she doesn’t understand what I’m saying or doing, one day she will. I NEED her to hear her mom saying nice things about her body, I NEED to show her the importance of health and doing something for yourself. I NEED her to understand that she is forever my reason, never my excuse. I NEED her to realize she is perfect exactly as she is. ⁣That starts with me. That’s why I show up. ⁣In this episode, I share the truth behind weight loss and why SO many people fall into comparison traps. I discuss the importance of chasing HEALTH instead of pounds lost, and last but not least- why comparing yourself to an old version of yourself is the last thing you want to do. 

039: The Truth About WEIGHT LOSS

Is it 2021 yet? I mean COME ON! This year has been pretty interesting, hasn't yet? Here we are now months into a worldwide pandemic and we have no idea when things are going to go back to "normal". To be honest, I've been staying away from any topic coronavirus related because I'm tired of hearing about it too. We get it. It's here and we have no clue when its going away. That we can all agree on. But the truth is guys, one thing we are all avoiding is the fact that we aren't going back to normal. A couple of weeks ago, I heard a sermon by my pastor that really struck a cord with me and got me thinking. That "thought" turned into this podcast episode and I hope it can bring some peace to your hearts in this crazy time. 

038: We Aren't Going Back to Normal

Welcome to the Control Freak podcast with your host Kelsey Smith! You are here because of the title, right? You like to be in control. Whether that be of your finances, career, faith, fertility, health, marriage, motherhood or emotions- this is now going to be your home base. This podcast will be a breath of fresh air as it cuts out the BS & gets straight to the point.With a balance of laughter, everyday life, real talk and super tough love, this podcast will teach you how to embrace your need to control in a whole new way and take away tangible lessons that will help you live your best life.

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Control Freak

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