It’s always a good day when I get to start off a podcast episode with a quote from Winnie the Pooh. In the movie Pooh’s Grand Adventure, Christopher Robin says, “You’re braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
While this quote comes from a children’s movie, it’s meant for everyone. On The School of Greatness, we talk a lot about how your mindset impacts your reality. If your mindset is self-deprecating and negative, then your reality will be sad and disempowering.
You might be thinking, “Well, there are parts of me that I want to improve! I’m not happy with who I am, and I want to be better!” First of all, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be better. We all need to strive to be better people than we were yesterday. But we don’t become better people by resorting to self-hate. If we obsess over our imperfections and let them define us, then we’ll never be happy, and we’ll never be better.
On the flip side, if we treat ourselves with love, grace, and patience, we can make the most out of our imperfections and become better people. We can literally use those imperfections as stepping stones to greatness!
My guest today truly understands the value of self-worth in the face of doubt, self-care in the face of uncertainty, and self-love that fosters growth, not complacency. I’m so excited to bring back Lisa Nichols!
“Awareness plus action equals transformation. Please don’t skip that ‘plus action part,’ because action is the antidote for despair.” – Lisa Nichols
I first interviewed Lisa Nichols back in 2016, so make sure you check out that episode after this one! It was a mindblowing conversation, and I’ve been waiting for the right moment to bring her back on!
Who Is Lisa Nichols?
Lisa Nichols is one of the world’s most successful motivational speakers, media personalities, and entrepreneurs, and her global platform has reached nearly 80 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination have inspired fans worldwide and helped countless audiences break through to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential.
As Founder and CEO of Motivating the Masses, Inc., Lisa has developed workshops and programs that have transformed the lives of countless people and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout the country and across the world.
Lisa is also a best-selling author of six books, including her New York Times bestseller No Matter What. Her newest book, Abundance Now, is a follow up to No Matter What and continues her journey with her fans, providing a clear and practical blueprint for personal success. Lisa’s extraordinary story of transforming her own life from public assistance for her family to leading a multi-million dollar enterprise is the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same.
Lisa has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, The Dr. Phil Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and Extra – just to name a few, and she’s also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of over 270,000 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families.
Lisa lives, plays and works in the greater San Diego, California area and on stages around the world, working alongside her world-class team committed to Motivating the Masses. She has wise catch-phrases for days, and I can’t wait for you to hear and learn from this inspiring, empowering woman! Let’s get into it!
Why Self-Care and Gratitude Are So Important
In a recent tweet, Lisa talked about the importance of self-care, and I was curious about what her definition of self-care actually is. Many people think self-care means getting your nails done, treating yourself to a massage, or eating your favorite dessert. While treating yourself to these things can be a part of self-care, I think it’s a lot more than that, and so does Lisa.
“I think self-care is a reflection of the worth that I believe I have … the flip side of self-care is acknowledging your self-worth, acknowledging your value to yourself … self-care is your responsibility to your future [and it’s] so much bigger than [getting] your nails done … Self-care is recognizing [that] this is not a sprint. This life is a marathon … Your job is to identify and have the courage and the tenacity and the resiliency to own your purpose.” – Lisa Nichols
I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone sum it up so beautifully. It’s your job to make sure your body, mind, and spirit have the energy, clarity, and focus to sustain the marathon of life and manifest your purpose.
A self-care ritual for Lisa is saying a gratitude prayer every morning. If you live in a mindset of fear, pessimism, and anger, you aren’t prioritizing self-care.
“And so every day … I’m grateful. And I share my gratitude for my mind, thinking logical thoughts, being able to rationalize and my body following my command. Your body is your instrument. It’s your tool. It’s the first person, the general in your army.” – Lisa Nichols
If we don’t take the time to practice gratitude, here’s what happens: We live in a state of irrational thoughts or negatively charged emotions. We are not taking care of ourselves and what’s more — we aren’t taking care of the people around us.
“And when you think of the Nelson Mandelas, Dr. Martin Luther Kings … Mother Theresa … they recognize that emotion and logic cannot coexist and make a logical decision.” – Lisa Nichols
Are you seeing why self-care and gratitude are so important? If we aren’t grateful, then we let negative emotions and thought-cycles determine our reality, and that reality hurts ourselves and the world. And if we don’t take care of ourselves, then we limit our potential for impact, growth, and self-love.
If you struggle with self-care, I want to encourage you to take some time to meditate and think about what gives you joy, what you’re grateful for, and how you can intentionally set a time to restore your energy. You’ll be amazed at the results you’ll produce.
