December 18, 2025 • 11 mins
The world feels faster, louder, and more crowded than ever—and that’s exactly why we need to hit pause.
Today's episode is about my own reset and an invitation to take yours. You’ll also get a set of powerful year-end prompts
If you’re ready to stop surviving your life and start creating it, this conversation is your cue to slow down so you can speed up with intention.
Please subscribe and share with a friend.
Learn more about Carla:
Website: https:/www.carlareeves.com/
Connect on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reevescarla/
Connect on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@differentlythepodcast
Go to https://carlareeves.com/free-class to get The Class schedule, sign up, and/or pass it on to a friend. Each month is a new topic. Come hang out and learn with us for FREE!
Book a Complimentary Strategy Call with Carla: https://bookme.name/carlareeves/strategycall
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- A free way to support our show is by leaving a five-star rating and review on your favorite podcast player. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show and it helps others discover it, too.
Thank you for listening!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
A deep change in the way that we live requires a deep
change in the way that we think.
I'm Carla Reeves, and this isdifferently.
Hey friend, happy December.
I have missed you.
Some of you have reached outwondering where I have been, and
I just want to say I appreciatethat so much.
(00:22):
It in almost five years of thispodcast, I have never missed a
Thursday episode, but this monthrequired a pause.
Um, I just could feel it in mywhole body, and I have been
prioritizing time to just getquiet, reflect, be with family
and loved ones, and not forcingthings because I made rules for
(00:47):
myself that I had to post apodcast every Thursday.
And I just felt that the podcastdeserved a reset too.
So much has changed this lastyear.
Not so much in my external life,but I just feel a lot in my
internal life.
Maybe you feel that too.
And it just feels like thepodcast is just shifting
(01:09):
slightly.
And I just needed to give it alittle rest so that those shifts
and changes could revealthemselves.
So I think this is going to bethe last episode of the year
because I'm just going to takethe rest of the year, which
isn't very long now, to be withfamily, to be quiet, to think
(01:29):
about what's next with thepodcast and the business and all
of that.
And I want it, that's reallywhat this podcast is about,
because I want to encourage youto do the same thing.
I don't know about you, but Ijust have been feeling like this
end of the year is just feelsmore important than maybe any
other year.
(01:50):
It feels like the world ischanging, the paradigm is
changing, our reality ischanging, the way we do business
is changing, AI is changing somuch, um, things are moving
faster, and I have been feelinglike I need to look back more
this year before I move forward.
(02:12):
And not even so much look back,but just reflect and get quiet.
That's actually what I did inthe last in December's free
class.
So if you haven't come to freeclasses, I host them every
month.
I will continue to do that inthe new year.
And it's really a time to setaside and carve out space in
your schedule to actually do thewriting.
I know sometimes people struggleto make the time to write, but
(02:35):
then when they do, it's soincredibly valuable.
So these classes are a structurefor you to carve out that space
in your life and do it incommunity and do it with a
little bit of guidance where Igive you some prompts and you
can just take that time toreflect.
It's been amazing to watch thewomen let down their shoulders,
(02:56):
sigh relief, get new clarity,feel new inspiration for their
life.
And so if you're needing some ofthat, come join us in the new
year.
And in a few minutes, I'm gonnagive you some of the questions
and prompts that I gave them inthe class that we wrote through
together.
God's been really taking me backto my roots and where my
(03:18):
business really began, which ifyou've been listening to the
podcast for a while, you knowthe story.
But it started when I was ayoung mom, feeling a little
overwhelmed and losing my ownsanity, um, becoming so absorbed
in being a mom, which I dreamedof my entire life, which I
absolutely adore.
But I was losing myself and Ifelt God call me to write.
(03:40):
And God's just been reminding meof that thread that has really
run through everything that I'vetaught and teached, and people
I've coached, the writing issuch a through line through it
all.
And it's a through line in mylife.
I don't even know if that's aword, but it's a thread that
runs through my life, that hasbeen one of the most grounding
(04:04):
habits.
And as our world starts to speedup, I want you to be thinking
too about what grounds you.
I notice um in my circle that,and in myself that I've been
spinning more, spinning more inmy head, spinning my wheels.
And with all that's going on inthe world and all the
(04:25):
information that we have at ourfingertips and the pace, I think
it's more important than everthat we as individuals learn to
calm our own minds, calm oursouls, get quiet so that we can
hear God in our lives.
And that's been one of the mostgrounding things.
(04:45):
And I wanted to read yousomething that I wrote 20 years
ago when I created my firstguided journal.
It's on the back cover, and itwas just a note that I wrote.
And this is for you, friend.
Imagine a place where you find acalm, wise voice that affirms
you and is kind to you.
(05:06):
You go there to replace worryand fear with clarity and
wisdom.
You discover a playground whereyou can invent who you are and
discover your purpose.
Going there becomes a ritualthat restores peace of mind.
This is writing.
Sink into a writing practicethat restores who you are and
(05:28):
what you are up to.
Watch your life expand beyondthe pages of your journal.
Happy writing.
So that was 20 years ago, and Ijust that message is so true
today today.
And if there is one gift that Ican give you this Christmas,
it's it's a journal, it's aninvitation to open a notebook,
(05:52):
grab a piece of paper, open aGoogle Doc, and just let your
thoughts come out, sink intoyour heart, get quiet.
It's not even so much about thewriting.
The writing slows you down longenough to hear your own true
voice, to hear God, and to feela peace that you long for.
(06:15):
And this next year, as I moveforward with this podcast and
this business, I'm gonnacontinue to make spaces for you
to come right with free classesevery month.
I'm creating a get out ofsurvival series of classes that
you will be able to take andactually get your survival model
(06:36):
so that you can stop survivingand really start creating your
life.
I'm really excited to tell youthat I have been working on a
journal.
I am gonna publish um orself-publish another journal.
And I haven't done that in 20years.
So I'm really excited aboutthat.
That's a physical product thatyou will actually be able to
(06:57):
buy, and I will let you know thedetails as soon as it is
available.
There's gonna be more.
So stay tuned and remember likeself-care is truly
self-discipline.
This world wants us to thinkthat we need to be more focused
on ourselves and taking care ofourselves.
(07:18):
And while that is good and true,it's the self-discipline that
actually has us show up and dothe things we know that we need
to do.
They're sometimes hard to do,but they're the real things that
are good for us.
And I invite you to giftyourself that this year and take
some time to reflect.
And I want to give you somequestions to do that.
(07:40):
Questions I brought to the classand I've been asking myself is
what did you set out to do thisyear and what actually happened?
That's a really fun question tolook at.
Like approach it with blamelessdiscernment.
But just like, not what did youset out to do and how many of
those things did you not do, butlike with curiosity, what
actually happened?
(08:01):
Because sometimes I find thosethings that actually happened
are even better or more alignedthan what I set out to do.
Then go through your photos onyour phone.
What were your favorite moments?
I had somebody do this in theclass, and she realized she was
thinking in her head that, like,oh, this year she didn't get to
do all the things she set out todo, and she was feeling really
(08:25):
down about it.
And when she went back andreflected, she realized, like,
wow, it's been a really greatyear.
So the mind is not alwaystrustworthy.
Um, you got to go deeper.
This is a question I love.
What relationships played themost significant roles in your
life?
Often that one surprises me.
(08:45):
When I in my mind, it's onething.
And when I get quiet, I'm like,oh wow, that relationship really
played a role.
And it made me want to reach outto those people to tell them,
How did you grow?
What strengthened you this year?
What will you leave behind?
And what will you carry forward?
(09:07):
Then I like to choose an imageor a word or something that
represents my vision for 2026.
What's going to guide me?
What am I going to set my eyeson and head towards, even when
things get hard?
What am I going to set my eyeson again and again and again
that's going to lead me forwardthis next year?
This is a question I reallyloved this year.
(09:28):
It's if you took your vision andturned the volume all the way
up, what would that look like inthe world?
Sit with that one.
And then whose lives would bedifferent because you said yes
to that?
And the last question, whatwould you need to let go of in
(09:51):
order for that to be real?
So, contrary to what your mindmay be telling you, that there's
no time, there's time if youmake the time, and if you make
this a priority, I promise itwill give back to you so much.
I believe that when you take thetime to care for the condition
of your mind and your soul andtune into God, that He will
(10:15):
create time for you to do allthe other things.
So, Merry Christmas to you,happy holidays to you.
I thank you for being a listenerof this podcast.
And as I get quiet to finish outthis year and focus on the
things that are really, reallymeaningful, I hope that you're
(10:39):
doing the same.
As you close the year, remember,slow down to speed up.
I can't wait to see you in 2026.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of Differently.
Hey, if you're ready to stopcircling the same thoughts and
start creating real momentum,check out my coaching
(11:03):
experiences.
There's a 12-week experience fora big shift, or there's a
monthly writing and coachingpartnership for ongoing clarity,
creativity, alignment, andmomentum.
You can find all the details atCarlareeves.com.
And if you enjoyed this episode,please help me grow the podcast
(11:24):
and leave a five star review onApple Podcasts and share with
someone you love.
Until next time, stop survivingyour life.
Start creating it.
A deep change in the way that we live requires a deep
change in the way that we think.
I'm Carla Reeves, and this isdifferently.
Hey friend, happy December.
I have missed you.
Some of you have reached outwondering where I have been, and
I just want to say I appreciatethat so much.
(00:22):
It in almost five years of thispodcast, I have never missed a
Thursday episode, but this monthrequired a pause.
Um, I just could feel it in mywhole body, and I have been
prioritizing time to just getquiet, reflect, be with family
and loved ones, and not forcingthings because I made rules for
(00:47):
myself that I had to post apodcast every Thursday.
And I just felt that the podcastdeserved a reset too.
So much has changed this lastyear.
Not so much in my external life,but I just feel a lot in my
internal life.
Maybe you feel that too.
And it just feels like thepodcast is just shifting
(01:09):
slightly.
And I just needed to give it alittle rest so that those shifts
and changes could revealthemselves.
So I think this is going to bethe last episode of the year
because I'm just going to takethe rest of the year, which
isn't very long now, to be withfamily, to be quiet, to think
(01:29):
about what's next with thepodcast and the business and all
of that.
And I want it, that's reallywhat this podcast is about,
because I want to encourage youto do the same thing.
I don't know about you, but Ijust have been feeling like this
end of the year is just feelsmore important than maybe any
other year.
(01:50):
It feels like the world ischanging, the paradigm is
changing, our reality ischanging, the way we do business
is changing, AI is changing somuch, um, things are moving
faster, and I have been feelinglike I need to look back more
this year before I move forward.
(02:12):
And not even so much look back,but just reflect and get quiet.
That's actually what I did inthe last in December's free
class.
So if you haven't come to freeclasses, I host them every
month.
I will continue to do that inthe new year.
And it's really a time to setaside and carve out space in
your schedule to actually do thewriting.
I know sometimes people struggleto make the time to write, but
(02:35):
then when they do, it's soincredibly valuable.
So these classes are a structurefor you to carve out that space
in your life and do it incommunity and do it with a
little bit of guidance where Igive you some prompts and you
can just take that time toreflect.
It's been amazing to watch thewomen let down their shoulders,
(02:56):
sigh relief, get new clarity,feel new inspiration for their
life.
And so if you're needing some ofthat, come join us in the new
year.
And in a few minutes, I'm gonnagive you some of the questions
and prompts that I gave them inthe class that we wrote through
together.
God's been really taking me backto my roots and where my
(03:18):
business really began, which ifyou've been listening to the
podcast for a while, you knowthe story.
But it started when I was ayoung mom, feeling a little
overwhelmed and losing my ownsanity, um, becoming so absorbed
in being a mom, which I dreamedof my entire life, which I
absolutely adore.
But I was losing myself and Ifelt God call me to write.
(03:40):
And God's just been reminding meof that thread that has really
run through everything that I'vetaught and teached, and people
I've coached, the writing issuch a through line through it
all.
And it's a through line in mylife.
I don't even know if that's aword, but it's a thread that
runs through my life, that hasbeen one of the most grounding
(04:04):
habits.
And as our world starts to speedup, I want you to be thinking
too about what grounds you.
I notice um in my circle that,and in myself that I've been
spinning more, spinning more inmy head, spinning my wheels.
And with all that's going on inthe world and all the
(04:25):
information that we have at ourfingertips and the pace, I think
it's more important than everthat we as individuals learn to
calm our own minds, calm oursouls, get quiet so that we can
hear God in our lives.
And that's been one of the mostgrounding things.
(04:45):
And I wanted to read yousomething that I wrote 20 years
ago when I created my firstguided journal.
It's on the back cover, and itwas just a note that I wrote.
And this is for you, friend.
Imagine a place where you find acalm, wise voice that affirms
you and is kind to you.
(05:06):
You go there to replace worryand fear with clarity and
wisdom.
You discover a playground whereyou can invent who you are and
discover your purpose.
Going there becomes a ritualthat restores peace of mind.
This is writing.
Sink into a writing practicethat restores who you are and
(05:28):
what you are up to.
Watch your life expand beyondthe pages of your journal.
Happy writing.
So that was 20 years ago, and Ijust that message is so true
today today.
And if there is one gift that Ican give you this Christmas,
it's it's a journal, it's aninvitation to open a notebook,
(05:52):
grab a piece of paper, open aGoogle Doc, and just let your
thoughts come out, sink intoyour heart, get quiet.
It's not even so much about thewriting.
The writing slows you down longenough to hear your own true
voice, to hear God, and to feela peace that you long for.
(06:15):
And this next year, as I moveforward with this podcast and
this business, I'm gonnacontinue to make spaces for you
to come right with free classesevery month.
I'm creating a get out ofsurvival series of classes that
you will be able to take andactually get your survival model
(06:36):
so that you can stop survivingand really start creating your
life.
I'm really excited to tell youthat I have been working on a
journal.
I am gonna publish um orself-publish another journal.
And I haven't done that in 20years.
So I'm really excited aboutthat.
That's a physical product thatyou will actually be able to
(06:57):
buy, and I will let you know thedetails as soon as it is
available.
There's gonna be more.
So stay tuned and remember likeself-care is truly
self-discipline.
This world wants us to thinkthat we need to be more focused
on ourselves and taking care ofourselves.
(07:18):
And while that is good and true,it's the self-discipline that
actually has us show up and dothe things we know that we need
to do.
They're sometimes hard to do,but they're the real things that
are good for us.
And I invite you to giftyourself that this year and take
some time to reflect.
And I want to give you somequestions to do that.
(07:40):
Questions I brought to the classand I've been asking myself is
what did you set out to do thisyear and what actually happened?
That's a really fun question tolook at.
Like approach it with blamelessdiscernment.
But just like, not what did youset out to do and how many of
those things did you not do, butlike with curiosity, what
actually happened?
(08:01):
Because sometimes I find thosethings that actually happened
are even better or more alignedthan what I set out to do.
Then go through your photos onyour phone.
What were your favorite moments?
I had somebody do this in theclass, and she realized she was
thinking in her head that, like,oh, this year she didn't get to
do all the things she set out todo, and she was feeling really
(08:25):
down about it.
And when she went back andreflected, she realized, like,
wow, it's been a really greatyear.
So the mind is not alwaystrustworthy.
Um, you got to go deeper.
This is a question I love.
What relationships played themost significant roles in your
life?
Often that one surprises me.
(08:45):
When I in my mind, it's onething.
And when I get quiet, I'm like,oh wow, that relationship really
played a role.
And it made me want to reach outto those people to tell them,
How did you grow?
What strengthened you this year?
What will you leave behind?
And what will you carry forward?
(09:07):
Then I like to choose an imageor a word or something that
represents my vision for 2026.
What's going to guide me?
What am I going to set my eyeson and head towards, even when
things get hard?
What am I going to set my eyeson again and again and again
that's going to lead me forwardthis next year?
This is a question I reallyloved this year.
(09:28):
It's if you took your vision andturned the volume all the way
up, what would that look like inthe world?
Sit with that one.
And then whose lives would bedifferent because you said yes
to that?
And the last question, whatwould you need to let go of in
(09:51):
order for that to be real?
So, contrary to what your mindmay be telling you, that there's
no time, there's time if youmake the time, and if you make
this a priority, I promise itwill give back to you so much.
I believe that when you take thetime to care for the condition
of your mind and your soul andtune into God, that He will
(10:15):
create time for you to do allthe other things.
So, Merry Christmas to you,happy holidays to you.
I thank you for being a listenerof this podcast.
And as I get quiet to finish outthis year and focus on the
things that are really, reallymeaningful, I hope that you're
(10:39):
doing the same.
As you close the year, remember,slow down to speed up.
I can't wait to see you in 2026.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of Differently.
Hey, if you're ready to stopcircling the same thoughts and
start creating real momentum,check out my coaching
(11:03):
experiences.
There's a 12-week experience fora big shift, or there's a
monthly writing and coachingpartnership for ongoing clarity,
creativity, alignment, andmomentum.
You can find all the details atCarlareeves.com.
And if you enjoyed this episode,please help me grow the podcast
(11:24):
and leave a five star review onApple Podcasts and share with
someone you love.
Until next time, stop survivingyour life.
Start creating it.
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