April 30, 2026 • 52 mins
I sat down with my friend Michelle Lindsay to talk about color, but this conversation went somewhere deeper.
What started as getting dressed and adding color back into your life turned into a conversation about alignment, identity, and what happens when you stop doing everything in your own strength.
If you’ve been moving fast, feeling a little off, or sensing there might be a different way to live, this one might meet you right where you are.
We talk about confidence, faith, and the simple shifts that can change how you feel in your life, starting with something as everyday as your closet.
Enjoy!
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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.
I have Michelle Lindsay, myfriend here today, who's a um
studio owner and stylist withHouse of Color.
Welcome, Michelle.
(00:20):
Thank you, Carla.
I'm excited to sit and have aconversation with you.
Um Michelle and I met, gosh, wasit last year?
SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
Yeah, it was a year ago in April at the Purpose
Gathering conference.
I was reflecting on that thismorning.
But yeah, what was I doingduring this month last year
where there were some of themilestones?
And yeah, meeting you with oneof them.
SPEAKER_00 (00:45):
Yeah.
So Ashley Frehan had an eventcalled the Purpose Gathering,
and we met there.
And then I had the honor ofbeing in the collective with you
as well, which is a gathering ofum faith-based business owners.
And then I got to experienceyour work.
And so after doing that, Ithought it would be so fun to
(01:07):
have you on to just talk allthings color.
SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, it's been two or threemonths.
How long has it been since you?
SPEAKER_00 (01:17):
I don't even know if it's been that lower summer.
Just like a month.
Okay.
I'm a I'm a baby.
I'm a newbie.
SPEAKER_01 (01:28):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's um, it's, I, you know, Ievery day um I think in the
studio, seeing so many peopleand like so many faces.
Sometimes it's like, I can'tforget like how long ago.
I'll remember the the colors forthat person and what they
thrived in, but I'll I likecan't necessarily always
(01:52):
remember like when that happenedhappened.
That part is a blur.
The faces aren't a blur, butlike when it happened, I think
is a blur.
SPEAKER_00 (02:00):
Uh, I'm sure.
So tell people, tell like tellmy listener a little bit about
you, what season of life you'rein, and then definitely about
what you're doing as far as yourwork these days.
SPEAKER_01 (02:13):
Yeah.
So I left the corporate world acouple of years ago um after
scaling the corporate ladder umand kind of reaching a point as
a young mom.
Um married young mom with soI've got a four-year-old and an
eight-year-old, where thecorporate schedule wasn't really
(02:39):
accommodating to their needs andjust needing to be like more
hands-on and available.
And I found myself, um, at leastat the role that I had leveled
up to as a VP, um, that thedemands were like a lot of
working outside of traditionalnormal hours and to get, you
(02:59):
know, projects done because it'smore project-based.
And um so yeah, I think I'vebeen reflecting that I wanted
flexibility and more controlover my schedule.
Um, I think I would have saidthat yes, it fully was because
of my family's needs, but Ithink part of it was just to
(03:20):
like um escape to find like morefreedom.
And then um while I was in thecorporate world, I treated
myself to a color analysisbecause I had lost my sense of
style.
I didn't have as much time toget ready every day.
(03:41):
And so um I arrived at a placewhere I think even post-COVID, I
was just in survival mode withgetting ready and my morning
routine.
So that just looked likecomfort, didn't really consider
color.
Um, yeah, mostly just like thefeel of the clothing, I think is
(04:03):
all I was cognizant of.
Um, but because I was on Zoomcalls so often and having to see
my face for presentations atwork, I saw something that made
me feel blah, not my best.
unknown (04:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (04:19):
And I think mentally day in and day out seeing that
then.
Anyway, so fast forward, I waslike, oh, remember how great it
felt when all of a sudden Idiscovered what colors to start
with wearing.
So I um had that in-person.
SPEAKER_00 (04:39):
So where in that journey, like, would was your
color analysis analysis comparedto your like thinking like I've
got to get out of here and makea big change?
Like, how close were thoseevents?
A year.
So you had the color analysis ayear prior?
unknown (04:58):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:59):
That's so fascinating.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (05:02):
Yeah, it was pretty quick.
Like it was at the verybeginning of um the new role and
getting an increase in compasscompensation, I think, justified
in my head that like I can giftthis to myself, you know, as
like a reward.
But um, yeah, when I just sawhow intentional color,
(05:24):
discovering what color harmonyis, um, researching even just
the impact that it has on thebrain.
Um, and then living in, youknow, colors that made me happy
and aligned with my skin and myfeatures that God gave me.
(05:46):
I felt a major shift inconfidence at at work, like on
the Zoom calls.
And then I think just even joy,like fun.
When I stepped into my closet,there was a shift in like um, I
don't know, my my outlook onthat space.
(06:07):
It wasn't something that I likedreaded or even just um had a
lack of thinking about.
It was actually something that Ilooked forward to.
And um I think starting yourday, getting ready intentionally
with color that can spark joysets a tone for the rest of your
(06:30):
life.
So the rest of your day, thecommunity, everybody who
interacts with you afterwards.
So I had always been in changemanagement in the corporate
world.
And so I think that freedom frommy job and then knowing that I
loved helping people in seasonsof change motivated me to think
(06:51):
I could do this.
What if I was a color analysisexpert also?
Um, there seems to be a lot ofinterest in it because of social
media.
Um I had a lot of people in mycommunity who thought I would be
good at it too.
(07:12):
So um I just had to present likethe business model kind of um,
the investment and how I couldmake it back to my husband.
And then once we were on thesame page about that, um, I went
off to training and came backand just full throttled every
(07:34):
day of the week was helpingpeople figure out how to feel
confident um and shift the waythat everybody gets ready.
So it's almost like habitstacking, like just shift the
way that they're already theirbuilt-in routine already, but do
(07:56):
it in such a way that you knowthey can experience
transformation and joy and allof that.
So um yeah, but I think recentlyI I mean I've been realizing
that I don't know if my heartmotives going into this, you
know, or fully right.
(08:16):
I feel like God's been likerefining that because I think
just like I was a workaholic inthe corporate world, I can be a
workaholic here too.
SPEAKER_00 (08:24):
Yeah, well, I wanted to kind of touch on that because
one, like that has been myjourney too.
And I think it's the journey ofa lot of people that are
following this podcast and areattracted to the work I do, our
high achievers and people that,yeah, if we're not careful, you
know, I call it your survivalmodel.
But if you're not careful, youcan just kind of go recreate
(08:47):
that in a different environment,right?
Which I think is sort of whatyou've shared that you did,
right?
When in the collective, like yougot back on that, you know, kind
of pouring yourself into thecolor world and then found
yourself in a similar spot.
I think.
Is that true?
unknown (09:04):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (09:04):
And then you've made some really major adjustments to
bring all that into alignment.
And so I'd love for you to speakto that a little bit.
SPEAKER_01 (09:15):
I mean, I think it's this testament that you can make
anything into an idol, and whena good thing becomes the
ultimate thing, um, yeah, we'reit's easy for everyone to fall
into that trap.
It's really sneaky and easy.
Um, because we are created toworship, and so if we're not
(09:41):
guarding what our eyes areseeing and our ears are hearing
and the influence that is on us,um, then we might find ourselves
like in a sense, right?
Like worshiping something thatdoesn't deserve that the best of
us and all of our resources andour attention, um, because our
worship is intended just forGod.
SPEAKER_02 (10:04):
So true.
SPEAKER_01 (10:04):
Yeah, he's the only one who can satisfy that.
So um, yeah, I think at the endof last year, I wanted to be
really successful in what I wasdoing.
Um I have been a high achieverlike my whole life.
I mentioned like climbing thecorporate ladder was the goal,
not just being in the corporateworld.
(10:26):
And so I can see that repeatingitself over my lifetime from a
young age.
Um, I think part of it is beinggoal-oriented, which I think is
great.
But then the other half of it,like you named, like survival
mode.
Um, but like at my core, the thelike little, the inner kid in
(10:52):
Michelle struggles withbelieving that I have any value
or any worth apart from howsuccessful or productive I am,
that no one would want to spendtime with me or invest in me if
I don't have that to offer.
And if it's like really obviousthat that's what I offer.
(11:14):
And so, man, I scaled fast.
I was breaking records.
So, House of Color is afranchise-based company.
And so um I remember with mytraining cohort, like we check
in every day.
So the other gals who arebecoming color analysis experts
and small business owners at thesame time, that's like your
(11:35):
support system.
Um, you're all in it together.
There were about 10 of us.
And I just remember what I wassaying that I was doing on a
daily basis was very differentthan the pace at which they were
doing things.
And it was interesting becausemy pride might grew a lot in
that.
Um, where I was like, oh mygosh, I am doing so good.
(11:58):
Like then crushing it incomparison to these women.
And um, you know, on thecorporate emails they'd send
like once a quarter, I wouldalways see like in the top 20,
top 15 list out of, you know,hundreds of franchises across
the world as high revenueperforming.
(12:20):
And so I scaled very quickly tosix figures, um, brought on two
employees, and I was like out toprove that I could do something
in House of Color that no oneelse could.
And let me point out, like, Icould do was the belief not God
could do.
And so the I could do ummentality freaking burnt me out
(12:52):
by the end of the year.
I had nothing left.
I mean, energy-wise, um what Ihad packaged as like a decision
to be more available for myfamily was not the case at all.
I did not have any energy forthem.
Wow.
Um and so yeah, that's that'swhere I go when I don't invite
(13:24):
God into every part of my life,including work.
Yeah, and um yeah, I think I sawmyself for sure as the one in
charge and as the CEO,essentially says, and not God as
the CEO of my business.
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
What were the like nudges or moments that like woke
you up to that realization thatsomething had to shift?
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
You know, I don't know if I could even really
pinpoint if there was a moment.
Um part of that is probably mymy like neurodivergence, even I
struggled with memory.
SPEAKER_00 (14:12):
Um well, and it might not have been a moment, it
might have been a series ofthings, right?
Yeah.
But what got your attention?
SPEAKER_01 (14:21):
I do so I do think that a year ago at the the
purpose gathering conference, Ido think that that was a
networking, what I perceived aslike a networking space that
kind of like alerted me.
Your awoke me, yeah, to like,wow, how good it feels and how
(14:45):
tired I was.
And I think I allowed that forthe week and then said, gotta
close it up because the only waythat I can survive and keep
going at this pace is tosuppress those those feelings
that have come up.
And so just going back into likerobot mode, instead of laying
(15:08):
the burdens and the emotions andthe exhaustion at the feet of
Jesus, I was just like, nope,I'm just gonna keep on figuring
it out.
Power through.
So I think that was the first.
And then um, yeah, I think therewere different people that God
(15:30):
had then placed in my life fromthat moment on that like kind of
had, I guess, like like areminder sort of an effect.
Um until I just hit rock buttonand was like, oh, I can't, I
like physically can't.
(15:52):
I don't want to get up out ofbed.
I don't have the energy to, Ifeel like I'm gonna break down
during appointments.
Um you know, just beinglight-bedded because I don't
have enough like energy becauseI'm standing up the whole time,
just like so feeling like thephysical and emotional impact,
like empty inside.
SPEAKER_00 (16:13):
Yeah.
I think that was similar in mystory too, where it's like on
the outside, people might nothave known, and I have a feeling
it was that way for you, um,because I wouldn't have known
that was going on for you when Imet you.
Um but inside I was running onempty.
Um and so, Michelle, like youare a very different um person
(16:40):
today than when I first met youand and your when your journey
in the collective.
And so, how could you?
I want to get to talk aboutcolor too, and all you're doing
in my experience with you, butcan you capture like a little
bit of what happened betweenthen and like what you're doing
and experiencing now and how Godhas, you know, you've allowed
(17:01):
God in and what is transtransformed?
SPEAKER_01 (17:06):
Yeah, the Holy Spirit is so good.
God is so kind, um, in that Heallowed me to feel like the
depravity, like the loneliness,the emptiness, that I wasn't
like immune to it, that I couldactually feel that, and that it
(17:27):
felt bad.
Um to get bad enough to like getmy attention to be like, oh,
something needs to shift orwhat's off here, or like to be
motivated to take a step back, Iguess, and like reevaluate
what's going on.
Um, I think if I if he hadn'tallowed me to experience that, I
(17:50):
think if the Holy Spirit hadn'tlike like activated this like
pull back to Jesus the way thathe did, I mean I'd probably
still be doing it, right?
Because that's my default.
But he was kind enough toredirect me.
(18:11):
Yeah.
He's kind enough to redirect meand offer me resources, um,
relationships, um, community.
Um that reminded me of likeGod's kingdom and how different
God's kingdom pursues abundancefrom the way that the world um
(18:36):
pursues abundance.
And um yeah, I I think I'mtrying to like remember your
like initial question because mybrain is already um just like
what has transformed.
So like how does that translateto your like day and the way
(18:58):
that you're operating and movingactions I yeah, so the act um so
the actions that I took afterexperiencing this like sense of
depravity and loneliness um waslike going to scripture um and
(19:20):
seeing very clearly that likeand be feeling very convicted
that like these the way that Iwas spending in my time and the
voices that I was allowing toinfluence my decision making was
not of him.
And I needed to cut off thosethings, even though they were
good things maybe for somepeople, um, not for me.
(19:43):
And so I needed to just be donewith it altogether.
Um, and then I think he was kindenough, right?
Like the networking groups thatI was a part of and very
committed to.
He was kind enough then to givelike a replacement pretty early.
I mean, early on.
It wasn't like there was a weirdin-between, right?
Like it was really clear thatthe the space um in the
(20:07):
collective was like a safe havenas I'm reorienting the way that
I go about life.
And so replacing old rhythmswith new rhythms, just having
like a weekly check-inconnection point regroup.
(20:31):
Um, you know, my brain neededthat consistency in order and
like repeat, just like with my,I tell my clients with like
embracing new colors, right?
That they might not have intheir wardrobe used to wear to
wearing.
I I needed that cadence tocreate a new rhythm and um and
(20:54):
to trust, to trust that Godwould show up and that God would
still provide and take care ofme if I went about doing things
differently.
And that meant releasing thewhole like idea of like I could
do things, like the things thatI could do in my business and
(21:18):
achieve, and like releasing thatand in inviting um and
partnering with God in what hecould do.
So I I my rhythm looks like nowMonday through Friday, it did
(21:39):
look like opening up mycomputer, my laptop, or my phone
and immediately addressing oneof the things that I I heard in
a business networking group waslike only address the stuff that
makes you money.
That should be top of mind.
That's the first thing that youshould be doing is what makes
you money.
And then let all the other stuffgo.
That's what you need to befocused on first.
So even though that's notbiblical at all, and I knew
(21:59):
that.
I'm like, oh, well, she's areally successful businesswoman.
So she knows.
Right.
And so then I let that voice bereally loud.
And that's what I was doing.
And so that would also reallyinterrupt the morning routine
for getting the kids, you know,ready to go to school.
Um, being available to check inand see how my husband's doing,
(22:23):
like to just start the day as afamily unit.
It was like, no, immediately Iwas starting the day in work
mode.
That was my identity.
So then, yeah, now, now it lookslike I wake up, not gonna lie, I
still can go to my phonesometimes and like see a
notification.
(22:43):
And my husband is kind enough tobe like, no, no, no, no, no.
And I'm like, you're right,you're right.
And then I just immediately haveto like reorient myself to
attention for the humans in myhome.
Um, have my like eyes on them.
(23:04):
Um, we listen to now when we doschool drop-off, we listen to my
daughter calls it kid Jesusmusic.
So that's cute.
Honestly, honestly, like eventhat's just like a simple tweak
that I think has made a hugedifference too in my headspace
and their headspace of like wewere listening to music that I
mean wasn't inappropriate, butit wasn't centered on Christ.
(23:27):
And so it's not like we werelike singing worship songs to
God before on the way to schooldrop-off.
And now we are, and I love that.
And I'm okay with those kidJesus songs being stuck in my
head.
SPEAKER_02 (23:38):
Like, I'm okay with that.
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
Um so that looks different, and then right after
school drop-off, then I go toget coffee and read scripture
and pray.
And that also completelyreorients and reminds my mind
and my heart and my body.
Like, I'm doing thingsdifferently.
(24:04):
I'm meant to do thingsdifferently.
Um, and to be more aware then oflike what's happening, what's
God doing around me, what's Godinviting me into, instead of
predetermining what gets mydetention or what gets my
(24:25):
attention, and like, you know,just being focused on the
revenue goal.
SPEAKER_00 (24:30):
Wow.
That is so beautiful.
I I just I thank you so much forbeing so open about sharing all
of that.
Um, I know that it relates to mystory, and I know that people
listening are gonna, it's gonnarelate to their story too.
SPEAKER_01 (24:47):
Um it's it's so simple, right?
SPEAKER_00 (24:50):
It's so simple, it really is.
Um, but like I but it's sodifferent, you know, and I think
like I remember like learninglike we're called to be
different, but like in thisworld, like what you're
describing, it does lookdifferent.
It looks really different, and Ithink there is so much fear that
(25:13):
like you're gonna lose your edgeor you're gonna lose whatever,
right?
And in my experience andwatching you, it couldn't be
that couldn't be more of a lie.
Thank you for saying that.
Yeah, because we don't like Idon't know.
My experience now is I don'thave to do it on empty, I feel
full, I feel alive.
(25:34):
Life is so rich.
Like, I was missing so manymoments in my life because I
wasn't doing what you just said,like looking around and like
being aware and keeping my eyesopen to what God has for me,
because it's always so muchbetter.
Oh my gosh.
A like blow your mind, right?
(25:56):
Like you couldn't have eventhought of it or fathomed it the
way he does.
Yeah.
Okay, so let's transition towhat you're doing because I
think it's so beautiful, and Ihave an experience of it, and
I'm experiencing like the giftof what you do.
(26:20):
And so you talked a little bitabout color harmony, yay! Um,
what is what is color harmony?
And like give people a littlepaint a picture of what you
actually do when somebody signsup for a color analysis.
And then you can ask mequestions about my experience
too.
SPEAKER_01 (26:41):
Yeah.
So, I mean, for anybody hearingthis, you you might it's
becoming more common, I think,because of social media.
So, like that was what led me toeven realizing that it was an
option.
I saw something on Instagramabout, you know, a recording
video of someone having allthese different colors put on,
(27:04):
and it looked like her face waschanging, even though it wasn't.
And then, you know, the way thenthat changed the way that she
dressed.
So just like seeing this liketransformation kind of like
happen right in front of youreyes.
Um, so color harmony, Godcreated because he created light
(27:28):
very beginning.
Um, and color is our brain'sinterpretation of light.
And um I don't know why he madeus to interpret color or love
color harmony.
Um, but we do, and it's just hedidn't have to be kind enough to
(27:58):
allow us to experience that onthis side of heaven.
Um does, I think it's aforetaste and a foreshadowing of
the kingdom, and you readRevelation, and there's so much
specific color described, it'sreally cool.
I was just reading about thatlast night.
Such specific color naming.
Um, and so color harmony is whenum just like you hear music and
(28:23):
it the instruments and thevoices harmonize and complement
one another, or when you taste adish where the ingredients all
come together and just yourtaste buds love it.
That's it's attached to our oursense, right?
And our brain loves when a bunchof things come together and
(28:46):
they're aligned and they almostlike make the experience
complete.
And so that's what happens whenGod created each of us as humans
with unique coloring as hisimage bearers.
Our unique coloring is areflection of him as a creative
creator, yeah, creative.
(29:08):
Yeah, I mean, and Revelation isjust talking about all the
different colors, even of God.
And I'm just like, oh my gosh,it's mind blowing.
So, anyway, so each of us kindof reflects that part of God in
different ways, and so becauseum of light and how our brain
interprets light, um, yeah, likewe all appear, like we have
(29:32):
different color, and then whenwe during an appointment, I get
to show people when we pairanother color that is similar
to, aligned with, um it createsharmony and our brains love it,
(29:55):
and it has this visual impact oflike glow, filter, completeness.
Like our brain thinks when wesee color harmony, oh, that
makes sense.
I love that, and it's so quickand subconscious, it's a really
cool thing phenomena.
Um, but I get to show what colorharmony looks like for people on
(30:21):
their bodies every day.
So they come in and they sit inmy chair, I put on like all
these different colored fabrics,and they get to see what I was
kind of describing about likeyour skin changing, the way you
interpret if it's in harmony ornot, like right in front of
their eyes in the mirror.
They get to see that happening.
(30:42):
And then I empower them with thetools to then be able to like
find those colors that theyexperienced in my studio, to go
out and find those colorsthemselves, put them in their
home, put them on their bodiesso that they can feel aligned,
experience that like aha senseof peace and alignment every day
(31:04):
before they go out, you know,and do whatever it is, work,
hanging out with friends, um,the gym, pajamas, and um
pajamas.
Pajamas.
And the thing is too, like itdoesn't it doesn't have to be
even for other people to likesee and like it.
(31:28):
Um you're totally you feel it.
SPEAKER_00 (31:30):
It's for you, you feel it too, yes.
That is so cool.
Um, so question because it doesit have anything to do with eye
color or hair color?
Because I feel like that's whatwe were always taught, and I
guess it isn't about that.
SPEAKER_01 (31:49):
Yeah, so there are now different just like bar or
yoga or Pilates, there are likekind of different methods that
use similar tools.
Yeah.
And but the training, theteaching, kind of the
(32:10):
facilitation looks different,has different flavors, right?
And so I am trained um in houseof colors method, which we find
that color harmony is focused onyour skin.
Like your skin doesn't change,your eye color can change, and
your hair color can change.
(32:31):
But um, when we're looking atcolor harmony with your
undertones, your undertonesyou're just born with, and those
remain consistent.
There's no variables that canactually touch that layer of
tissue.
And so the reason why House ofColor does that is because they
want to be the most precise.
And when you are comparing it tolike a controllable, because the
(32:55):
appointment's almost like ascience experiment, right?
Trying all these differentthings and seeing what the
results lead to.
Um, when you are changing allthese different variables, in
this case, the color, um,comparing it to undertones, a
layer of skin tissue thatremains consistent throughout
someone's life, and that doesnot change, that allows for the
(33:16):
most precise, you know, like ityields um, yeah, it yields the
best because people spend a lotof money after their
appointment, you know, orthey're investing in things
afterwards.
And so we want to give them themost precise answers so that
they feel like they're makinggood investments.
Um, but yeah, I don't, I don'tknow where that started.
(33:36):
Like it's kind of like theeverybody can wear black thing
that we hear too from a youngage, and it's a really great
option and staple.
SPEAKER_00 (33:46):
I think it's just cultural.
It's so crazy.
So I went to see Michellebecause, well, I had just I had
seen your work, I had seen you,and like you can't see her, but
she's in a bright, beautifulblue.
And like every time I saw you,you were so you're so put
together.
(34:06):
Um, and you just look beautiful.
Or you'd see my what?
SPEAKER_01 (34:10):
You'd see me, you'd see me putting myself together
on some of the calls.
SPEAKER_00 (34:15):
We're literally you were putting it was so on brand.
SPEAKER_01 (34:17):
She's putting on her makeup or go from the gym to the
studio and you guys can get towitness.
SPEAKER_00 (34:23):
While we're on the call.
That was so great.
I loved that actually.
Um and and I'd heard Ashley haddone it.
And so like I was curious aboutit, but I like at first I hadn't
really thought about doing it.
And then like, I'm just in a newseason and I'm getting older,
and like my closet was just I'vedone some things to like wake up
my style life.
(34:44):
And I always thought it was likeI just did wasn't good at
putting things together, likeputting outfits together.
And um, and I started to realizethat my whole closet was like
neutral and like black and creamand brown, like so bad.
(35:06):
Like I wish I had taken apicture of my closet before and
now, because it's literally allcolor, Michelle.
And I had some of, you know, Ihad some of things tucked away
and then I did.
Like I went and got some thingstoo.
And so I don't have a lot ofclothes, but they're all color.
And my experience of gettingdressed is totally different,
(35:31):
like you said.
I don't feel as stressed.
It doesn't matter as much what Iput, like what I put together.
It's the color that matters.
Yeah.
You had said to me, like, you'reit's like things are gonna make
sense to you after thisappointment.
And I realized when I went backto my closet, the things that I
(35:53):
love were all a color and in mypalette.
And like that's when I feltcalmest, calmest and most
relaxed and most beautiful waswhen I was in something like
that.
Even if it was just a frumpy oldgreen sweatshirt, you know, I
still felt my prettiest in that.
(36:13):
And like it's so crazy.
So it has changed my life in areally big way.
And you said to me, like, go getpajamas, like your husband will
love it.
And I literally I didn't tellyou this, but I went back home
and I had bought a pair of likea little spaghetti strap tank
with um like sweatpants inperiwinkle blue before I ever
(36:37):
met with you.
And I got home and I'm like, Idon't even have to buy the
pajamas.
I have them.
I had taken them to Costa Ricaand I never wore them.
And so, like that was such atreat, like such simple things,
but I feel like it's just filledmy life again with color and
like how we can do that, how wecan let go of things that like
(36:59):
bring us joy and like not evenrealize it.
Um, like I just I don't know, Idon't know how my closet got so
drab, honestly.
Um and then I think the otherthing you showed me is like I
felt like because I'm gettingolder, I need to like wear more
makeup.
And when I went and saw you,you're you gave me like that
(37:20):
tinted sunscreen.
I'm like, well, don't I needsomething more?
And you're like, I don't thinkso.
Like, I think it's better to benatural.
Or and like that just gave mefreedom too.
Cause I don't I didn't want moremakeup, I've never been a big
makeup person, you know?
And like just how simple a lipgloss in the right color could
make a difference, or the brandswitching to brown mascara, like
(37:44):
just the simple things that youshared.
Um, it's just brought a lot ofjoy to my life.
So I thank you, my friend, forwhat you do.
SPEAKER_01 (37:55):
I'm so, so, so glad that you shared all of that,
Carla.
Like that makes me to my corefeel so good.
Um yeah, I pray that that's whathappens, you know, for every
(38:17):
human, if not right away, um,eventually, that's come through
my studio because I think it isa foretaste of God's kingdom,
like what heaven will be like,like what you're experiencing
and describing.
SPEAKER_00 (38:32):
Well, and it's like I was just reading that like our
gifts, like our God-given giftsare not ours, they're for
others, which I thought was sobeautiful.
Um, but like if I'm in my ownway and I'm fixated on myself,
or I don't feel my best, or I'mlike, oh, like just don't feel
good, then I can't go out andshine God's light, you know,
(38:52):
because I'm focused on myself.
You're distracted.
Like the work you do.
It's like I can just get in myclothes now and like feel great
and and then just go do mything.
And for you know, when I wasyoung, um in front of the
mirror, like spending way toomuch time getting ready for
something, my mom would say, Um,forget yourself and go have a
(39:17):
good time.
And like I hated it.
I would get so mad at her.
Like, I didn't not outwardly,but inwardly, I would be mad
because I think I probably knewshe was right at that time.
But like I've thought about thatso many times in my life.
Like I tell myself that a lot.
Um, and it's not like in a badway, but it's like just set
(39:39):
yourself down and just go outand be in the world and let
God's light shine through you,you know.
Forget about yourself.
And I I think that that thecolor actually helps me to spend
less time on those thingsbecause, like you said, they
naturally bring out something inyou that God made, and you can
(40:03):
relax into that.
SPEAKER_01 (40:08):
Yeah, I think similar I remember my pastor
saying that um it's not thinkingof yourself less, it's just
thinking about yourself less.
SPEAKER_00 (40:23):
Yes, I've heard that too, and I love that.
Not thinking less of yourself,but thinking about yourself less
or something.
I can't, I can't, I don'tremember exactly how it went,
but yes.
SPEAKER_01 (40:35):
Yeah, so that you can be present and available to
aware of to what God's doing,the people in front of you, the
places that he has you.
Because I think, I mean, dudesare probably this way too, but I
think for women, we can reallylive in our heads.
(40:56):
Um and if we're distracted byour thoughts and our
insecurities and all of that, orthe next output that we need to
get, um, or you know, justconsuming nonstop, shopping
nonstop, whether it's for likemakeup or accessories or
whatever.
Um we have we have less we haveless like availability for the
(41:24):
Lord and for his image bearers.
SPEAKER_00 (41:27):
Well, and I found like I remember you saying that
it would change the way you shopand consume.
And I mean, I went out shopping,I think after I saw you, and I
was like, what, like it was awhole different experience
walking in a store because Iimmediately like it was like,
no, no, no, no.
Maybe yes.
(41:47):
It like eliminated so much,which I think is great.
Yeah, it like narrows your focuson what you're looking for.
And I think you even said likeyou don't need as much.
Um, yeah, so beautiful.
So tell me, like, what are yourfavorite moments in um this
experience with someone?
(42:09):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (42:13):
Um my gosh, that's such a good question.
Okay, so I think my leastfavorite part is like when I'm
welcoming the person and they'relike, I'm nervous, and I'm like,
oh, like I hate that like thiskind of stuff, just because of
(42:36):
our culture and society, like itbrings that up, you know.
But then I think the part thenand the opposite end that's my
favorite is when all of a suddenyou like see it in people's
facial expressions, um, as theysee, like it's probably at the
end, um, all of these colorsthat harmonize with one another,
(42:58):
that are in harmony with theclient and their skin and their
features, like it just all isaligned and like they see that
and they feel it.
And oftentimes it's for thefirst time in their lives,
right?
SPEAKER_02 (43:13):
Wow.
SPEAKER_01 (43:15):
And that is a complete opposite of how many
walk in feeling anxious andnervous and confused, and um so
yeah, I I mean it's probably atthe end.
Um and I'm such an expressiveperson that sometimes I will
(43:39):
just have inappropriatereactions or stare for too long,
like they're just a work of art,you know?
Because I'm just so I love thatabout you.
I'm I'm just so in awe.
And like I've seen over 500clients, and that I still have
that like genuine response tooh.
(44:00):
Good.
How good.
It looks.
I mean, because it's a visualthing, right?
Like how good it is when I see.
I think the other part that'sprobably my favorite and looks
(44:21):
different, but the glimpses ofbehind the scenes when I get to
hear people's, you know, we'respending two hours together.
So we talk a lot.
And when I get to hear thebehind the scenes stories of
what's going on in their livesand create space and get curious
and get to hear kind of what ledthem to my studio, like
(44:45):
oftentimes it's a season of somesort of transition, like age or
new job, or graduating, or newrelationship.
And so I think God brings peopleinto my studio and invites me to
be a part of this new chapter intheir story that they're
(45:06):
writing, um, whether they'reaware of that or not.
Um and I selfishly get theimmediate gratification of
seeing that new chapter beingwritten, like right in front of
me in the way that they seethemselves.
(45:28):
So that I think that's anotherjust that's so cool.
SPEAKER_00 (45:32):
Like you and I do such different things, but I
work with people in transitiontoo.
Like they're, you know, and Iget to see them like writing
their story, and like I cancompletely see that from your
side now.
Like you get to do that in atotally different way.
And I might have to startrecommending color analysis.
(45:53):
Really, like when they're likestepping out of their survival
model and into their new story,like what a powerful expressive
way to um couple that together.
So fun.
SPEAKER_01 (46:06):
It's like celebrating that, right?
Um my gosh, our time.
So the one of the uh one of myfavorite actually stories that
was told as a referral for mewas someone, I can't remember if
I told you this.
Someone um talked about me intheir therapy appointment to
their therapist at just howlife-changing the experience was
(46:28):
and like how it built momentumfor what they were finding
healing in.
And so then the therapist cameand saw me.
SPEAKER_00 (46:34):
Oh my gosh, I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (46:36):
And the therapist like wept in my chair herself,
right?
So I just think like that's thebest.
That's my favorite referralstory.
SPEAKER_00 (46:44):
Oh my gosh, you guys, if you could see her face
right now, she's so lit up.
It's so beautiful.
Yay! Oh my gosh, friend, I lovewhat you do.
If you are listening, like whata beautiful gift.
I've seen like what a beautifulMother's Day gift.
What a beautiful gift to afriend.
What a beautiful gift toyourself.
Like, check out what Michelle isdoing.
And I think you can only servepeople locally in Chandler.
(47:07):
Is that right?
Or can you do this?
SPEAKER_01 (47:09):
Well, I can serve anyone.
So I can serve anyone in person.
My studio is in Chandler, butyou can live anywhere.
I have had some people fly fromout of state.
But yeah, again, it goes back tothe precise thing.
I want to give you the mostprecise answers.
And the way that I can achievethat is by doing it in person
because our eyes can seesomething that a camera lens
(47:31):
can't.
SPEAKER_00 (47:33):
So beautiful.
Okay.
I have one more question foryou, and then I want you to
share all the places that peoplecan connect and find out more
about what you're doing andwatch these transformations
because it's really fun to seewhat you're doing on Instagram
too.
Like, and it actually helps mein my new journey with color,
um, get ideas and inspirationand like really see it.
(47:54):
So that's that's really great.
Um what does differently mean toyou?
SPEAKER_01 (48:02):
Um I wanna I wanna say it's like the opposite of
the norm, but I think inparticular this season, I think
differently to me now means umdoing it God's way.
SPEAKER_00 (48:18):
I love that.
What a beautiful full circleanswer to where we started,
friend.
I love it.
SPEAKER_01 (48:29):
Okay, so share all the places where people can find
you and yeah, so um you canvisit my my website is House of
Color.
Color is spelled with a U.
Um, because we're a UKBritish-based company, so they
(48:50):
just got fancy with it, but it'sHouse of Color with a U.com
slash Michelle Lindsay.
And then you can read more aboutme, my story, um, the services
that I offer.
And then if you want to um, Idon't know, see my appointments
(49:12):
or my weird personality, um, howI try to live my most colorful
life, um, you can follow me onInstagram.
Um House of Color, SW Chandler.
And um yeah, I try and keep itfun.
Um, I take what I do seriouslyand the expertise that I offer
(49:38):
because yeah, I want to be agood steward, but I don't take
myself too seriously.
So you'll probably notice thatum in the behind the scenes.
I can present probably on mywebsite as very professional and
put together.
Um, but actually behind thescenes, I'm just a weirdo.
So I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (49:59):
Oh my gosh.
I love you, friend, and I am sograteful for you sharing your
story and what you do and how wecan all add more color to our
life and how God fits into thewhole picture because the
kingdom is good, the kingdom isreal, and in the kingdom is for
(50:21):
now.
I think I didn't know that for along time.
So if you're listening, yeah, Ididn't know that we got to
really experience the kingdomhere and now, and you've you've
opened the door to that forpeople today, and um, it's so
beautiful.
So thank you.
You're so welcome.
(50:42):
All right, thanks for having me.
You're welcome.
Have a beautiful day, a colorfulday.
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
experiences.
(51:03):
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
(51:23):
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.
I have Michelle Lindsay, myfriend here today, who's a um
studio owner and stylist withHouse of Color.
Welcome, Michelle.
(00:20):
Thank you, Carla.
I'm excited to sit and have aconversation with you.
Um Michelle and I met, gosh, wasit last year?
SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
Yeah, it was a year ago in April at the Purpose
Gathering conference.
I was reflecting on that thismorning.
But yeah, what was I doingduring this month last year
where there were some of themilestones?
And yeah, meeting you with oneof them.
SPEAKER_00 (00:45):
Yeah.
So Ashley Frehan had an eventcalled the Purpose Gathering,
and we met there.
And then I had the honor ofbeing in the collective with you
as well, which is a gathering ofum faith-based business owners.
And then I got to experienceyour work.
And so after doing that, Ithought it would be so fun to
(01:07):
have you on to just talk allthings color.
SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, it's been two or threemonths.
How long has it been since you?
SPEAKER_00 (01:17):
I don't even know if it's been that lower summer.
Just like a month.
Okay.
I'm a I'm a baby.
I'm a newbie.
SPEAKER_01 (01:28):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's um, it's, I, you know, Ievery day um I think in the
studio, seeing so many peopleand like so many faces.
Sometimes it's like, I can'tforget like how long ago.
I'll remember the the colors forthat person and what they
thrived in, but I'll I likecan't necessarily always
(01:52):
remember like when that happenedhappened.
That part is a blur.
The faces aren't a blur, butlike when it happened, I think
is a blur.
SPEAKER_00 (02:00):
Uh, I'm sure.
So tell people, tell like tellmy listener a little bit about
you, what season of life you'rein, and then definitely about
what you're doing as far as yourwork these days.
SPEAKER_01 (02:13):
Yeah.
So I left the corporate world acouple of years ago um after
scaling the corporate ladder umand kind of reaching a point as
a young mom.
Um married young mom with soI've got a four-year-old and an
eight-year-old, where thecorporate schedule wasn't really
(02:39):
accommodating to their needs andjust needing to be like more
hands-on and available.
And I found myself, um, at leastat the role that I had leveled
up to as a VP, um, that thedemands were like a lot of
working outside of traditionalnormal hours and to get, you
(02:59):
know, projects done because it'smore project-based.
And um so yeah, I think I'vebeen reflecting that I wanted
flexibility and more controlover my schedule.
Um, I think I would have saidthat yes, it fully was because
of my family's needs, but Ithink part of it was just to
(03:20):
like um escape to find like morefreedom.
And then um while I was in thecorporate world, I treated
myself to a color analysisbecause I had lost my sense of
style.
I didn't have as much time toget ready every day.
(03:41):
And so um I arrived at a placewhere I think even post-COVID, I
was just in survival mode withgetting ready and my morning
routine.
So that just looked likecomfort, didn't really consider
color.
Um, yeah, mostly just like thefeel of the clothing, I think is
(04:03):
all I was cognizant of.
Um, but because I was on Zoomcalls so often and having to see
my face for presentations atwork, I saw something that made
me feel blah, not my best.
unknown (04:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (04:19):
And I think mentally day in and day out seeing that
then.
Anyway, so fast forward, I waslike, oh, remember how great it
felt when all of a sudden Idiscovered what colors to start
with wearing.
So I um had that in-person.
SPEAKER_00 (04:39):
So where in that journey, like, would was your
color analysis analysis comparedto your like thinking like I've
got to get out of here and makea big change?
Like, how close were thoseevents?
A year.
So you had the color analysis ayear prior?
unknown (04:58):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:59):
That's so fascinating.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (05:02):
Yeah, it was pretty quick.
Like it was at the verybeginning of um the new role and
getting an increase in compasscompensation, I think, justified
in my head that like I can giftthis to myself, you know, as
like a reward.
But um, yeah, when I just sawhow intentional color,
(05:24):
discovering what color harmonyis, um, researching even just
the impact that it has on thebrain.
Um, and then living in, youknow, colors that made me happy
and aligned with my skin and myfeatures that God gave me.
(05:46):
I felt a major shift inconfidence at at work, like on
the Zoom calls.
And then I think just even joy,like fun.
When I stepped into my closet,there was a shift in like um, I
don't know, my my outlook onthat space.
(06:07):
It wasn't something that I likedreaded or even just um had a
lack of thinking about.
It was actually something that Ilooked forward to.
And um I think starting yourday, getting ready intentionally
with color that can spark joysets a tone for the rest of your
(06:30):
life.
So the rest of your day, thecommunity, everybody who
interacts with you afterwards.
So I had always been in changemanagement in the corporate
world.
And so I think that freedom frommy job and then knowing that I
loved helping people in seasonsof change motivated me to think
(06:51):
I could do this.
What if I was a color analysisexpert also?
Um, there seems to be a lot ofinterest in it because of social
media.
Um I had a lot of people in mycommunity who thought I would be
good at it too.
(07:12):
So um I just had to present likethe business model kind of um,
the investment and how I couldmake it back to my husband.
And then once we were on thesame page about that, um, I went
off to training and came backand just full throttled every
(07:34):
day of the week was helpingpeople figure out how to feel
confident um and shift the waythat everybody gets ready.
So it's almost like habitstacking, like just shift the
way that they're already theirbuilt-in routine already, but do
(07:56):
it in such a way that you knowthey can experience
transformation and joy and allof that.
So um yeah, but I think recentlyI I mean I've been realizing
that I don't know if my heartmotives going into this, you
know, or fully right.
(08:16):
I feel like God's been likerefining that because I think
just like I was a workaholic inthe corporate world, I can be a
workaholic here too.
SPEAKER_00 (08:24):
Yeah, well, I wanted to kind of touch on that because
one, like that has been myjourney too.
And I think it's the journey ofa lot of people that are
following this podcast and areattracted to the work I do, our
high achievers and people that,yeah, if we're not careful, you
know, I call it your survivalmodel.
But if you're not careful, youcan just kind of go recreate
(08:47):
that in a different environment,right?
Which I think is sort of whatyou've shared that you did,
right?
When in the collective, like yougot back on that, you know, kind
of pouring yourself into thecolor world and then found
yourself in a similar spot.
I think.
Is that true?
unknown (09:04):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (09:04):
And then you've made some really major adjustments to
bring all that into alignment.
And so I'd love for you to speakto that a little bit.
SPEAKER_01 (09:15):
I mean, I think it's this testament that you can make
anything into an idol, and whena good thing becomes the
ultimate thing, um, yeah, we'reit's easy for everyone to fall
into that trap.
It's really sneaky and easy.
Um, because we are created toworship, and so if we're not
(09:41):
guarding what our eyes areseeing and our ears are hearing
and the influence that is on us,um, then we might find ourselves
like in a sense, right?
Like worshiping something thatdoesn't deserve that the best of
us and all of our resources andour attention, um, because our
worship is intended just forGod.
SPEAKER_02 (10:04):
So true.
SPEAKER_01 (10:04):
Yeah, he's the only one who can satisfy that.
So um, yeah, I think at the endof last year, I wanted to be
really successful in what I wasdoing.
Um I have been a high achieverlike my whole life.
I mentioned like climbing thecorporate ladder was the goal,
not just being in the corporateworld.
(10:26):
And so I can see that repeatingitself over my lifetime from a
young age.
Um, I think part of it is beinggoal-oriented, which I think is
great.
But then the other half of it,like you named, like survival
mode.
Um, but like at my core, the thelike little, the inner kid in
(10:52):
Michelle struggles withbelieving that I have any value
or any worth apart from howsuccessful or productive I am,
that no one would want to spendtime with me or invest in me if
I don't have that to offer.
And if it's like really obviousthat that's what I offer.
(11:14):
And so, man, I scaled fast.
I was breaking records.
So, House of Color is afranchise-based company.
And so um I remember with mytraining cohort, like we check
in every day.
So the other gals who arebecoming color analysis experts
and small business owners at thesame time, that's like your
(11:35):
support system.
Um, you're all in it together.
There were about 10 of us.
And I just remember what I wassaying that I was doing on a
daily basis was very differentthan the pace at which they were
doing things.
And it was interesting becausemy pride might grew a lot in
that.
Um, where I was like, oh mygosh, I am doing so good.
(11:58):
Like then crushing it incomparison to these women.
And um, you know, on thecorporate emails they'd send
like once a quarter, I wouldalways see like in the top 20,
top 15 list out of, you know,hundreds of franchises across
the world as high revenueperforming.
(12:20):
And so I scaled very quickly tosix figures, um, brought on two
employees, and I was like out toprove that I could do something
in House of Color that no oneelse could.
And let me point out, like, Icould do was the belief not God
could do.
And so the I could do ummentality freaking burnt me out
(12:52):
by the end of the year.
I had nothing left.
I mean, energy-wise, um what Ihad packaged as like a decision
to be more available for myfamily was not the case at all.
I did not have any energy forthem.
Wow.
Um and so yeah, that's that'swhere I go when I don't invite
(13:24):
God into every part of my life,including work.
Yeah, and um yeah, I think I sawmyself for sure as the one in
charge and as the CEO,essentially says, and not God as
the CEO of my business.
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
What were the like nudges or moments that like woke
you up to that realization thatsomething had to shift?
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
You know, I don't know if I could even really
pinpoint if there was a moment.
Um part of that is probably mymy like neurodivergence, even I
struggled with memory.
SPEAKER_00 (14:12):
Um well, and it might not have been a moment, it
might have been a series ofthings, right?
Yeah.
But what got your attention?
SPEAKER_01 (14:21):
I do so I do think that a year ago at the the
purpose gathering conference, Ido think that that was a
networking, what I perceived aslike a networking space that
kind of like alerted me.
Your awoke me, yeah, to like,wow, how good it feels and how
(14:45):
tired I was.
And I think I allowed that forthe week and then said, gotta
close it up because the only waythat I can survive and keep
going at this pace is tosuppress those those feelings
that have come up.
And so just going back into likerobot mode, instead of laying
(15:08):
the burdens and the emotions andthe exhaustion at the feet of
Jesus, I was just like, nope,I'm just gonna keep on figuring
it out.
Power through.
So I think that was the first.
And then um, yeah, I think therewere different people that God
(15:30):
had then placed in my life fromthat moment on that like kind of
had, I guess, like like areminder sort of an effect.
Um until I just hit rock buttonand was like, oh, I can't, I
like physically can't.
(15:52):
I don't want to get up out ofbed.
I don't have the energy to, Ifeel like I'm gonna break down
during appointments.
Um you know, just beinglight-bedded because I don't
have enough like energy becauseI'm standing up the whole time,
just like so feeling like thephysical and emotional impact,
like empty inside.
SPEAKER_00 (16:13):
Yeah.
I think that was similar in mystory too, where it's like on
the outside, people might nothave known, and I have a feeling
it was that way for you, um,because I wouldn't have known
that was going on for you when Imet you.
Um but inside I was running onempty.
Um and so, Michelle, like youare a very different um person
(16:40):
today than when I first met youand and your when your journey
in the collective.
And so, how could you?
I want to get to talk aboutcolor too, and all you're doing
in my experience with you, butcan you capture like a little
bit of what happened betweenthen and like what you're doing
and experiencing now and how Godhas, you know, you've allowed
(17:01):
God in and what is transtransformed?
SPEAKER_01 (17:06):
Yeah, the Holy Spirit is so good.
God is so kind, um, in that Heallowed me to feel like the
depravity, like the loneliness,the emptiness, that I wasn't
like immune to it, that I couldactually feel that, and that it
(17:27):
felt bad.
Um to get bad enough to like getmy attention to be like, oh,
something needs to shift orwhat's off here, or like to be
motivated to take a step back, Iguess, and like reevaluate
what's going on.
Um, I think if I if he hadn'tallowed me to experience that, I
(17:50):
think if the Holy Spirit hadn'tlike like activated this like
pull back to Jesus the way thathe did, I mean I'd probably
still be doing it, right?
Because that's my default.
But he was kind enough toredirect me.
(18:11):
Yeah.
He's kind enough to redirect meand offer me resources, um,
relationships, um, community.
Um that reminded me of likeGod's kingdom and how different
God's kingdom pursues abundancefrom the way that the world um
(18:36):
pursues abundance.
And um yeah, I I think I'mtrying to like remember your
like initial question because mybrain is already um just like
what has transformed.
So like how does that translateto your like day and the way
(18:58):
that you're operating and movingactions I yeah, so the act um so
the actions that I took afterexperiencing this like sense of
depravity and loneliness um waslike going to scripture um and
(19:20):
seeing very clearly that likeand be feeling very convicted
that like these the way that Iwas spending in my time and the
voices that I was allowing toinfluence my decision making was
not of him.
And I needed to cut off thosethings, even though they were
good things maybe for somepeople, um, not for me.
(19:43):
And so I needed to just be donewith it altogether.
Um, and then I think he was kindenough, right?
Like the networking groups thatI was a part of and very
committed to.
He was kind enough then to givelike a replacement pretty early.
I mean, early on.
It wasn't like there was a weirdin-between, right?
Like it was really clear thatthe the space um in the
(20:07):
collective was like a safe havenas I'm reorienting the way that
I go about life.
And so replacing old rhythmswith new rhythms, just having
like a weekly check-inconnection point regroup.
(20:31):
Um, you know, my brain neededthat consistency in order and
like repeat, just like with my,I tell my clients with like
embracing new colors, right?
That they might not have intheir wardrobe used to wear to
wearing.
I I needed that cadence tocreate a new rhythm and um and
(20:54):
to trust, to trust that Godwould show up and that God would
still provide and take care ofme if I went about doing things
differently.
And that meant releasing thewhole like idea of like I could
do things, like the things thatI could do in my business and
(21:18):
achieve, and like releasing thatand in inviting um and
partnering with God in what hecould do.
So I I my rhythm looks like nowMonday through Friday, it did
(21:39):
look like opening up mycomputer, my laptop, or my phone
and immediately addressing oneof the things that I I heard in
a business networking group waslike only address the stuff that
makes you money.
That should be top of mind.
That's the first thing that youshould be doing is what makes
you money.
And then let all the other stuffgo.
That's what you need to befocused on first.
So even though that's notbiblical at all, and I knew
(21:59):
that.
I'm like, oh, well, she's areally successful businesswoman.
So she knows.
Right.
And so then I let that voice bereally loud.
And that's what I was doing.
And so that would also reallyinterrupt the morning routine
for getting the kids, you know,ready to go to school.
Um, being available to check inand see how my husband's doing,
(22:23):
like to just start the day as afamily unit.
It was like, no, immediately Iwas starting the day in work
mode.
That was my identity.
So then, yeah, now, now it lookslike I wake up, not gonna lie, I
still can go to my phonesometimes and like see a
notification.
(22:43):
And my husband is kind enough tobe like, no, no, no, no, no.
And I'm like, you're right,you're right.
And then I just immediately haveto like reorient myself to
attention for the humans in myhome.
Um, have my like eyes on them.
(23:04):
Um, we listen to now when we doschool drop-off, we listen to my
daughter calls it kid Jesusmusic.
So that's cute.
Honestly, honestly, like eventhat's just like a simple tweak
that I think has made a hugedifference too in my headspace
and their headspace of like wewere listening to music that I
mean wasn't inappropriate, butit wasn't centered on Christ.
(23:27):
And so it's not like we werelike singing worship songs to
God before on the way to schooldrop-off.
And now we are, and I love that.
And I'm okay with those kidJesus songs being stuck in my
head.
SPEAKER_02 (23:38):
Like, I'm okay with that.
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
Um so that looks different, and then right after
school drop-off, then I go toget coffee and read scripture
and pray.
And that also completelyreorients and reminds my mind
and my heart and my body.
Like, I'm doing thingsdifferently.
(24:04):
I'm meant to do thingsdifferently.
Um, and to be more aware then oflike what's happening, what's
God doing around me, what's Godinviting me into, instead of
predetermining what gets mydetention or what gets my
(24:25):
attention, and like, you know,just being focused on the
revenue goal.
SPEAKER_00 (24:30):
Wow.
That is so beautiful.
I I just I thank you so much forbeing so open about sharing all
of that.
Um, I know that it relates to mystory, and I know that people
listening are gonna, it's gonnarelate to their story too.
SPEAKER_01 (24:47):
Um it's it's so simple, right?
SPEAKER_00 (24:50):
It's so simple, it really is.
Um, but like I but it's sodifferent, you know, and I think
like I remember like learninglike we're called to be
different, but like in thisworld, like what you're
describing, it does lookdifferent.
It looks really different, and Ithink there is so much fear that
(25:13):
like you're gonna lose your edgeor you're gonna lose whatever,
right?
And in my experience andwatching you, it couldn't be
that couldn't be more of a lie.
Thank you for saying that.
Yeah, because we don't like Idon't know.
My experience now is I don'thave to do it on empty, I feel
full, I feel alive.
(25:34):
Life is so rich.
Like, I was missing so manymoments in my life because I
wasn't doing what you just said,like looking around and like
being aware and keeping my eyesopen to what God has for me,
because it's always so muchbetter.
Oh my gosh.
A like blow your mind, right?
(25:56):
Like you couldn't have eventhought of it or fathomed it the
way he does.
Yeah.
Okay, so let's transition towhat you're doing because I
think it's so beautiful, and Ihave an experience of it, and
I'm experiencing like the giftof what you do.
(26:20):
And so you talked a little bitabout color harmony, yay! Um,
what is what is color harmony?
And like give people a littlepaint a picture of what you
actually do when somebody signsup for a color analysis.
And then you can ask mequestions about my experience
too.
SPEAKER_01 (26:41):
Yeah.
So, I mean, for anybody hearingthis, you you might it's
becoming more common, I think,because of social media.
So, like that was what led me toeven realizing that it was an
option.
I saw something on Instagramabout, you know, a recording
video of someone having allthese different colors put on,
(27:04):
and it looked like her face waschanging, even though it wasn't.
And then, you know, the way thenthat changed the way that she
dressed.
So just like seeing this liketransformation kind of like
happen right in front of youreyes.
Um, so color harmony, Godcreated because he created light
(27:28):
very beginning.
Um, and color is our brain'sinterpretation of light.
And um I don't know why he madeus to interpret color or love
color harmony.
Um, but we do, and it's just hedidn't have to be kind enough to
(27:58):
allow us to experience that onthis side of heaven.
Um does, I think it's aforetaste and a foreshadowing of
the kingdom, and you readRevelation, and there's so much
specific color described, it'sreally cool.
I was just reading about thatlast night.
Such specific color naming.
Um, and so color harmony is whenum just like you hear music and
(28:23):
it the instruments and thevoices harmonize and complement
one another, or when you taste adish where the ingredients all
come together and just yourtaste buds love it.
That's it's attached to our oursense, right?
And our brain loves when a bunchof things come together and
(28:46):
they're aligned and they almostlike make the experience
complete.
And so that's what happens whenGod created each of us as humans
with unique coloring as hisimage bearers.
Our unique coloring is areflection of him as a creative
creator, yeah, creative.
(29:08):
Yeah, I mean, and Revelation isjust talking about all the
different colors, even of God.
And I'm just like, oh my gosh,it's mind blowing.
So, anyway, so each of us kindof reflects that part of God in
different ways, and so becauseum of light and how our brain
interprets light, um, yeah, likewe all appear, like we have
(29:32):
different color, and then whenwe during an appointment, I get
to show people when we pairanother color that is similar
to, aligned with, um it createsharmony and our brains love it,
(29:55):
and it has this visual impact oflike glow, filter, completeness.
Like our brain thinks when wesee color harmony, oh, that
makes sense.
I love that, and it's so quickand subconscious, it's a really
cool thing phenomena.
Um, but I get to show what colorharmony looks like for people on
(30:21):
their bodies every day.
So they come in and they sit inmy chair, I put on like all
these different colored fabrics,and they get to see what I was
kind of describing about likeyour skin changing, the way you
interpret if it's in harmony ornot, like right in front of
their eyes in the mirror.
They get to see that happening.
(30:42):
And then I empower them with thetools to then be able to like
find those colors that theyexperienced in my studio, to go
out and find those colorsthemselves, put them in their
home, put them on their bodiesso that they can feel aligned,
experience that like aha senseof peace and alignment every day
(31:04):
before they go out, you know,and do whatever it is, work,
hanging out with friends, um,the gym, pajamas, and um
pajamas.
Pajamas.
And the thing is too, like itdoesn't it doesn't have to be
even for other people to likesee and like it.
(31:28):
Um you're totally you feel it.
SPEAKER_00 (31:30):
It's for you, you feel it too, yes.
That is so cool.
Um, so question because it doesit have anything to do with eye
color or hair color?
Because I feel like that's whatwe were always taught, and I
guess it isn't about that.
SPEAKER_01 (31:49):
Yeah, so there are now different just like bar or
yoga or Pilates, there are likekind of different methods that
use similar tools.
Yeah.
And but the training, theteaching, kind of the
(32:10):
facilitation looks different,has different flavors, right?
And so I am trained um in houseof colors method, which we find
that color harmony is focused onyour skin.
Like your skin doesn't change,your eye color can change, and
your hair color can change.
(32:31):
But um, when we're looking atcolor harmony with your
undertones, your undertonesyou're just born with, and those
remain consistent.
There's no variables that canactually touch that layer of
tissue.
And so the reason why House ofColor does that is because they
want to be the most precise.
And when you are comparing it tolike a controllable, because the
(32:55):
appointment's almost like ascience experiment, right?
Trying all these differentthings and seeing what the
results lead to.
Um, when you are changing allthese different variables, in
this case, the color, um,comparing it to undertones, a
layer of skin tissue thatremains consistent throughout
someone's life, and that doesnot change, that allows for the
(33:16):
most precise, you know, like ityields um, yeah, it yields the
best because people spend a lotof money after their
appointment, you know, orthey're investing in things
afterwards.
And so we want to give them themost precise answers so that
they feel like they're makinggood investments.
Um, but yeah, I don't, I don'tknow where that started.
(33:36):
Like it's kind of like theeverybody can wear black thing
that we hear too from a youngage, and it's a really great
option and staple.
SPEAKER_00 (33:46):
I think it's just cultural.
It's so crazy.
So I went to see Michellebecause, well, I had just I had
seen your work, I had seen you,and like you can't see her, but
she's in a bright, beautifulblue.
And like every time I saw you,you were so you're so put
together.
(34:06):
Um, and you just look beautiful.
Or you'd see my what?
SPEAKER_01 (34:10):
You'd see me, you'd see me putting myself together
on some of the calls.
SPEAKER_00 (34:15):
We're literally you were putting it was so on brand.
SPEAKER_01 (34:17):
She's putting on her makeup or go from the gym to the
studio and you guys can get towitness.
SPEAKER_00 (34:23):
While we're on the call.
That was so great.
I loved that actually.
Um and and I'd heard Ashley haddone it.
And so like I was curious aboutit, but I like at first I hadn't
really thought about doing it.
And then like, I'm just in a newseason and I'm getting older,
and like my closet was just I'vedone some things to like wake up
my style life.
(34:44):
And I always thought it was likeI just did wasn't good at
putting things together, likeputting outfits together.
And um, and I started to realizethat my whole closet was like
neutral and like black and creamand brown, like so bad.
(35:06):
Like I wish I had taken apicture of my closet before and
now, because it's literally allcolor, Michelle.
And I had some of, you know, Ihad some of things tucked away
and then I did.
Like I went and got some thingstoo.
And so I don't have a lot ofclothes, but they're all color.
And my experience of gettingdressed is totally different,
(35:31):
like you said.
I don't feel as stressed.
It doesn't matter as much what Iput, like what I put together.
It's the color that matters.
Yeah.
You had said to me, like, you'reit's like things are gonna make
sense to you after thisappointment.
And I realized when I went backto my closet, the things that I
(35:53):
love were all a color and in mypalette.
And like that's when I feltcalmest, calmest and most
relaxed and most beautiful waswhen I was in something like
that.
Even if it was just a frumpy oldgreen sweatshirt, you know, I
still felt my prettiest in that.
(36:13):
And like it's so crazy.
So it has changed my life in areally big way.
And you said to me, like, go getpajamas, like your husband will
love it.
And I literally I didn't tellyou this, but I went back home
and I had bought a pair of likea little spaghetti strap tank
with um like sweatpants inperiwinkle blue before I ever
(36:37):
met with you.
And I got home and I'm like, Idon't even have to buy the
pajamas.
I have them.
I had taken them to Costa Ricaand I never wore them.
And so, like that was such atreat, like such simple things,
but I feel like it's just filledmy life again with color and
like how we can do that, how wecan let go of things that like
(36:59):
bring us joy and like not evenrealize it.
Um, like I just I don't know, Idon't know how my closet got so
drab, honestly.
Um and then I think the otherthing you showed me is like I
felt like because I'm gettingolder, I need to like wear more
makeup.
And when I went and saw you,you're you gave me like that
(37:20):
tinted sunscreen.
I'm like, well, don't I needsomething more?
And you're like, I don't thinkso.
Like, I think it's better to benatural.
Or and like that just gave mefreedom too.
Cause I don't I didn't want moremakeup, I've never been a big
makeup person, you know?
And like just how simple a lipgloss in the right color could
make a difference, or the brandswitching to brown mascara, like
(37:44):
just the simple things that youshared.
Um, it's just brought a lot ofjoy to my life.
So I thank you, my friend, forwhat you do.
SPEAKER_01 (37:55):
I'm so, so, so glad that you shared all of that,
Carla.
Like that makes me to my corefeel so good.
Um yeah, I pray that that's whathappens, you know, for every
(38:17):
human, if not right away, um,eventually, that's come through
my studio because I think it isa foretaste of God's kingdom,
like what heaven will be like,like what you're experiencing
and describing.
SPEAKER_00 (38:32):
Well, and it's like I was just reading that like our
gifts, like our God-given giftsare not ours, they're for
others, which I thought was sobeautiful.
Um, but like if I'm in my ownway and I'm fixated on myself,
or I don't feel my best, or I'mlike, oh, like just don't feel
good, then I can't go out andshine God's light, you know,
(38:52):
because I'm focused on myself.
You're distracted.
Like the work you do.
It's like I can just get in myclothes now and like feel great
and and then just go do mything.
And for you know, when I wasyoung, um in front of the
mirror, like spending way toomuch time getting ready for
something, my mom would say, Um,forget yourself and go have a
(39:17):
good time.
And like I hated it.
I would get so mad at her.
Like, I didn't not outwardly,but inwardly, I would be mad
because I think I probably knewshe was right at that time.
But like I've thought about thatso many times in my life.
Like I tell myself that a lot.
Um, and it's not like in a badway, but it's like just set
(39:39):
yourself down and just go outand be in the world and let
God's light shine through you,you know.
Forget about yourself.
And I I think that that thecolor actually helps me to spend
less time on those thingsbecause, like you said, they
naturally bring out something inyou that God made, and you can
(40:03):
relax into that.
SPEAKER_01 (40:08):
Yeah, I think similar I remember my pastor
saying that um it's not thinkingof yourself less, it's just
thinking about yourself less.
SPEAKER_00 (40:23):
Yes, I've heard that too, and I love that.
Not thinking less of yourself,but thinking about yourself less
or something.
I can't, I can't, I don'tremember exactly how it went,
but yes.
SPEAKER_01 (40:35):
Yeah, so that you can be present and available to
aware of to what God's doing,the people in front of you, the
places that he has you.
Because I think, I mean, dudesare probably this way too, but I
think for women, we can reallylive in our heads.
(40:56):
Um and if we're distracted byour thoughts and our
insecurities and all of that, orthe next output that we need to
get, um, or you know, justconsuming nonstop, shopping
nonstop, whether it's for likemakeup or accessories or
whatever.
Um we have we have less we haveless like availability for the
(41:24):
Lord and for his image bearers.
SPEAKER_00 (41:27):
Well, and I found like I remember you saying that
it would change the way you shopand consume.
And I mean, I went out shopping,I think after I saw you, and I
was like, what, like it was awhole different experience
walking in a store because Iimmediately like it was like,
no, no, no, no.
Maybe yes.
(41:47):
It like eliminated so much,which I think is great.
Yeah, it like narrows your focuson what you're looking for.
And I think you even said likeyou don't need as much.
Um, yeah, so beautiful.
So tell me, like, what are yourfavorite moments in um this
experience with someone?
(42:09):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (42:13):
Um my gosh, that's such a good question.
Okay, so I think my leastfavorite part is like when I'm
welcoming the person and they'relike, I'm nervous, and I'm like,
oh, like I hate that like thiskind of stuff, just because of
(42:36):
our culture and society, like itbrings that up, you know.
But then I think the part thenand the opposite end that's my
favorite is when all of a suddenyou like see it in people's
facial expressions, um, as theysee, like it's probably at the
end, um, all of these colorsthat harmonize with one another,
(42:58):
that are in harmony with theclient and their skin and their
features, like it just all isaligned and like they see that
and they feel it.
And oftentimes it's for thefirst time in their lives,
right?
SPEAKER_02 (43:13):
Wow.
SPEAKER_01 (43:15):
And that is a complete opposite of how many
walk in feeling anxious andnervous and confused, and um so
yeah, I I mean it's probably atthe end.
Um and I'm such an expressiveperson that sometimes I will
(43:39):
just have inappropriatereactions or stare for too long,
like they're just a work of art,you know?
Because I'm just so I love thatabout you.
I'm I'm just so in awe.
And like I've seen over 500clients, and that I still have
that like genuine response tooh.
(44:00):
Good.
How good.
It looks.
I mean, because it's a visualthing, right?
Like how good it is when I see.
I think the other part that'sprobably my favorite and looks
(44:21):
different, but the glimpses ofbehind the scenes when I get to
hear people's, you know, we'respending two hours together.
So we talk a lot.
And when I get to hear thebehind the scenes stories of
what's going on in their livesand create space and get curious
and get to hear kind of what ledthem to my studio, like
(44:45):
oftentimes it's a season of somesort of transition, like age or
new job, or graduating, or newrelationship.
And so I think God brings peopleinto my studio and invites me to
be a part of this new chapter intheir story that they're
(45:06):
writing, um, whether they'reaware of that or not.
Um and I selfishly get theimmediate gratification of
seeing that new chapter beingwritten, like right in front of
me in the way that they seethemselves.
(45:28):
So that I think that's anotherjust that's so cool.
SPEAKER_00 (45:32):
Like you and I do such different things, but I
work with people in transitiontoo.
Like they're, you know, and Iget to see them like writing
their story, and like I cancompletely see that from your
side now.
Like you get to do that in atotally different way.
And I might have to startrecommending color analysis.
(45:53):
Really, like when they're likestepping out of their survival
model and into their new story,like what a powerful expressive
way to um couple that together.
So fun.
SPEAKER_01 (46:06):
It's like celebrating that, right?
Um my gosh, our time.
So the one of the uh one of myfavorite actually stories that
was told as a referral for mewas someone, I can't remember if
I told you this.
Someone um talked about me intheir therapy appointment to
their therapist at just howlife-changing the experience was
(46:28):
and like how it built momentumfor what they were finding
healing in.
And so then the therapist cameand saw me.
SPEAKER_00 (46:34):
Oh my gosh, I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (46:36):
And the therapist like wept in my chair herself,
right?
So I just think like that's thebest.
That's my favorite referralstory.
SPEAKER_00 (46:44):
Oh my gosh, you guys, if you could see her face
right now, she's so lit up.
It's so beautiful.
Yay! Oh my gosh, friend, I lovewhat you do.
If you are listening, like whata beautiful gift.
I've seen like what a beautifulMother's Day gift.
What a beautiful gift to afriend.
What a beautiful gift toyourself.
Like, check out what Michelle isdoing.
And I think you can only servepeople locally in Chandler.
(47:07):
Is that right?
Or can you do this?
SPEAKER_01 (47:09):
Well, I can serve anyone.
So I can serve anyone in person.
My studio is in Chandler, butyou can live anywhere.
I have had some people fly fromout of state.
But yeah, again, it goes back tothe precise thing.
I want to give you the mostprecise answers.
And the way that I can achievethat is by doing it in person
because our eyes can seesomething that a camera lens
(47:31):
can't.
SPEAKER_00 (47:33):
So beautiful.
Okay.
I have one more question foryou, and then I want you to
share all the places that peoplecan connect and find out more
about what you're doing andwatch these transformations
because it's really fun to seewhat you're doing on Instagram
too.
Like, and it actually helps mein my new journey with color,
um, get ideas and inspirationand like really see it.
(47:54):
So that's that's really great.
Um what does differently mean toyou?
SPEAKER_01 (48:02):
Um I wanna I wanna say it's like the opposite of
the norm, but I think inparticular this season, I think
differently to me now means umdoing it God's way.
SPEAKER_00 (48:18):
I love that.
What a beautiful full circleanswer to where we started,
friend.
I love it.
SPEAKER_01 (48:29):
Okay, so share all the places where people can find
you and yeah, so um you canvisit my my website is House of
Color.
Color is spelled with a U.
Um, because we're a UKBritish-based company, so they
(48:50):
just got fancy with it, but it'sHouse of Color with a U.com
slash Michelle Lindsay.
And then you can read more aboutme, my story, um, the services
that I offer.
And then if you want to um, Idon't know, see my appointments
(49:12):
or my weird personality, um, howI try to live my most colorful
life, um, you can follow me onInstagram.
Um House of Color, SW Chandler.
And um yeah, I try and keep itfun.
Um, I take what I do seriouslyand the expertise that I offer
(49:38):
because yeah, I want to be agood steward, but I don't take
myself too seriously.
So you'll probably notice thatum in the behind the scenes.
I can present probably on mywebsite as very professional and
put together.
Um, but actually behind thescenes, I'm just a weirdo.
So I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (49:59):
Oh my gosh.
I love you, friend, and I am sograteful for you sharing your
story and what you do and how wecan all add more color to our
life and how God fits into thewhole picture because the
kingdom is good, the kingdom isreal, and in the kingdom is for
(50:21):
now.
I think I didn't know that for along time.
So if you're listening, yeah, Ididn't know that we got to
really experience the kingdomhere and now, and you've you've
opened the door to that forpeople today, and um, it's so
beautiful.
So thank you.
You're so welcome.
(50:42):
All right, thanks for having me.
You're welcome.
Have a beautiful day, a colorfulday.
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
experiences.
(51:03):
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
(51:23):
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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