October 1, 2025 • 30 mins
Welcome back to The Authentic Life Podcast!
Season 1 was all about awareness — learning how to set boundaries without apologizing, recognizing when assumptions shape our reality, and checking our ego before it drives our decisions. But awareness by itself is not enough.
👉🏽 This first episode of Season 2 kicks off a new journey: moving from awareness to action. Because knowing your patterns, your triggers, and your growth areas means nothing if you don’t actually shift how you live.
In this episode, I dive into:
✨ Why awareness without action is just observation
✨ The hidden cost of staying stuck in awareness mode
✨ Strategies for moving from knowing → doing → becoming
✨ Everyday authentic actions you can take right now
✨ Reflection prompts to help you move differently this week
🔑 Key Takeaway:
Awareness tells you who you are. Action shows the world who you’re becoming.
Reflection Prompts for You:
- Where in my life have I confused awareness with progress?
- What am I proud of recognizing but haven’t actually changed?
- What’s one micro-action I can take this week to prove I’m moving forward?
This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, coaching, or therapy. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health or coaching professional for your specific needs.
- ✨ Want to learn more about Keisha, host of #TheAuthenticLife Podcast? Visit my Bio Link for all the details! 🌟: https://bio.site/consultingwithkeisha
- 📚 #TheAuthenticLife: Inspiring Book Pick: Discover empowering reads handpicked to inspire personal growth, foster self-awareness, and transform your journey to living authentically. Each book aligns with #TheAuthenticLife principles, offering insights and tools to help you thrive in life, love, and leadership. Start your next chapter today! https://amzn.to/40dbLqV
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
Hey, hey, hey, it's your girl Keisha, and this is
The Authentic Life.
This isn't your typical podcast.
It's your go-to space for realtalk, bold moves, and
unapologetic living.
Together, we'll laugh, we'llreflect, and we will uncover
what it really means to embraceyour truth.
So grab your favorite drink, getcomfy, and let's dive into all
(00:22):
the magic that is waiting foryou on The Authentic Life.
Hello, hello, hello, and welcomeback.
Your girl has missed you.
Welcome to Hashtag theAuthenticLife.
It has been a minute.
My last episode was in May,y'all.
So just a little refresher and alittle reminder.
Hashtag the AuthenticLife is aspace where we explore what it
(00:44):
really means to live fully, tolive freely, and most
importantly, to liveunapologetically as your true
self.
It's your girl Keisha.
I'm your host, I'm your guide,and most importantly, I might
just be your accountabilitypartner by the end of this
journey.
So whether you're here tuning infrom your car, your office, the
gym, or your favorite cozycorner at home, you know your
(01:07):
girl is just glad that youdecided to be here with her
today.
And if you've been rocking withme since season one, I want to
start by saying thank youbecause you didn't have to do
that.
If you bought merch that cameout of season one, thank you.
I so appreciate you.
And you already know what it is.
You already know that thispodcast is more than just
(01:27):
listening.
We grow over here, we learn overhere, and then we apply what we
have learned in an effort tomake sure that we are growing
daily.
Season one was a deep dive intoawareness.
It was all about who's gonnacheck me, boo.
And it was you checking you.
We asked ourselves toughquestions about how we show up
(01:48):
in the world.
We unpack what it meant to setthose boundaries that we keep
saying that we want to set, butdo them without apologizing.
How do we recognize whenassumptions shape our reality?
And how we check that ego at thedoor before it drives any of our
decisions.
But here's the thing awarenessby itself, that's not enough.
(02:10):
You can know something all day,know your patterns, know your
triggers, know your growthareas, and still never shift how
you live.
Awareness without action, well,that's just observation.
And that's why season two isabout moving from awareness to
action.
Because family, observationwon't change your life, action
(02:34):
will.
So let's start this new journeyof season two together.
Your girl has experienced a lot,your girl has done a lot.
You know, you know, I say doingthe absolute most, but the one
thing that I have tried to doover these last couple of months
is move from being so self-awareof self and putting some stuff
(02:55):
into action.
So we're gonna kick this offabout talking about moving from
awareness to action before wejump into a whole bunch of
topics this season.
So grab your notebook, grab yourcognac, grab your wine, grab
your juice, your soda, whateveryou drink.
Grab it, sit down, listen to me.
If you're in the gym, get yourworkout on, take some notes, do
(03:15):
all the things because now it'stime for us to move to action
and actually do something.
So let's jump this thing off.
Okay, so now let's talk aboutwhat awareness really is.
Awareness, it's like turning onthe light in a dark room.
Suddenly, you can see where thechair is, where the table is,
(03:39):
where the walls are.
You can see all the things youwere tripping over before.
But here's the kicker.
The chair won't move itself, thetable won't shift out of your
way.
You have to decide what to dowith what you now see.
And here's where I need to behonest.
I've had whole seasons of mylife where I thought awareness
(04:00):
was enough.
I'd walk away from therapy or aconversation with a mentor, even
journaling, and saying tomyself, girl, you know what,
you're growing.
You've named the thing, you seethe pattern, you got clarity.
And while, yes, naming andseeing matters, I'd still walk
into another room, anothermeeting, another relationship,
and repeat the same behavior.
(04:21):
And that wasn't growth, that wasjust observation.
I was just a reporter takingnotes on my own life.
Now, don't get me wrong,awareness is powerful, but if
we're not careful, we can makeit, we can mistake it for
progress.
Awareness feels good.
It gives us language, it makesus feel like we're moving
forward.
(04:42):
But without action, it's likebuying a gym membership and
never going.
You feel proud that you'vejoined, but the work hasn't even
started.
I remember a time early in mycareer when I noticed I shut
down in certain spaces.
I'd be in a meeting with leaderswho were who may be a little bit
more seasoned, more outspoken,and I may be a little quiet.
(05:03):
I leave those meetings awarethat I shrank myself, aware that
I had ideas that I never spokeout loud.
And every single time I'd say,Well, at least I recognize it.
That's progress.
But was it?
Because six months later, a yearlater, I may was I may have
still been walking out ofmeeting silent, still watching
(05:24):
my ideas get spoken by somebodyelse, or still shrinking.
Awareness gave me a mirror, butI was just staring back at it.
Here's the psychology of it.
Awareness lives in your mind,action lives in your body.
And until you connect the two,until you actually do something
different, awareness can turninto another form of
(05:46):
procrastination.
It's a comfortable place to hidebecause you feel like you're
working on yourself withoutactually risking change.
Think about it.
How many times have you said, Iknow I need to eat better?
Look, I'm saying that every day.
Your girl has gained some weightand she got to get it off.
And I say that every day andevery Monday I'm starting a
diet, but I digress.
(06:06):
Or I know I need to setboundaries, or I know I need to
stop checking my email firstthing in the morning.
You're aware.
But unless you change the plateyou put in front of you, unless
you actually say the word no,unless you leave your phone in
the other room, that awarenesshasn't shifted your life one
bit.
It's like knowing there's a leakunder your sink.
(06:27):
You're aware of it.
You've seen the drip, drip,drip.
But unless you tighten the pipeor call the plumber, awareness
won't stop the water.
Eventually it's going to costyou more.
It may lead to warped floors,mold, a bigger mess than it was
before.
I want you to take a deep breathwith me right now.
(06:51):
Inhale, exhale.
Now ask yourself, where in mylife have I confused awareness
with progress?
What am I proud of recognizingbut haven't actually changed?
Say it out loud if you can, andif you're in a place where you
(07:13):
can't say it out loud, whisperit to yourself.
Because sometimes hearing yourown voice, admit it, that's the
first step to action.
Then pause for a beat and letthe silence do the work.
Here's something I've learned.
Awareness without actioneventually turns into guilt.
(07:33):
Because the more you seesomething in yourself and ignore
it, ignore it, the heavier itbecomes, the heavier it starts
to feel.
It's like carrying a backpackthat gets heavier every day.
You don't do something about it.
So when people tell me, Keisha,I've been aware of this for
years, my first question is,okay, but what have you done
(07:56):
about it?
Because awareness is only thebeginning, it's the invitation,
it's the starting line, not thefinish line.
Awareness is a gift, but it'snot the goal.
The goal is what you do with it.
The goal is how you movedifferently because of it.
And in this season, we're notjust celebrating the fact that
(08:17):
we can name it, we're pushingourselves to change it.
All right, let's go deeper.
We've talked about how awarenessis only the beginning, but I
want to sit with something wedon't talk about enough.
The cost of actually stayingstill.
Here's the truth inaction is notneutral.
It feels neutral, but it's not.
(08:38):
You think you're just waiting,just processing, just sitting
with it, but the reality isyou're paying a price.
For me, another cost was mypeace.
I remember a time at work when Ibecame aware that I was saying
yes to everything.
And you know me, I say yes to alot of stuff, but it was
(08:59):
probably stuff I was saying yesto that I should have been
saying no to.
Every project, every request,every can you just and I knew I
was overcommitting.
I knew I was running myself intothe ground and could even name
it.
Keisha, you're doing too much.
But here's the truth (09:12):
I didn't change anything.
I kept saying yes because Ididn't want to disappoint
people.
And every yes chipped away atme.
I was exhausted, um, tired,irritated, a little frustrated,
right?
When really I just needed tolook in the mirror.
Awareness without action wascosting me my peace of mind.
(09:32):
I go home at night and still tryto do red, still try to do work
instead of resting.
Um, I replay the day sometimes.
And the story I told myself inthose moments is you can't say
no, because if you do, you'd beletting people down.
You lose their trust.
And for some people, you mayfeel incapable.
And that's where that you'retrying to prove yourself comes
(09:53):
early in your career.
And this was earlier in mycareer.
Um, but that's the thing aboutawareness without movement.
It doesn't just leave you stuck,it builds a narrative in your
head, a narrative that robs youof peace and convinces you that
the cage you're sitting in islocked, when in reality, the
door was open the whole time.
You just had to walk through it.
(10:14):
So here's some everyday thingsthat we can think about when
we're thinking about awarenessto action or the cost of sitting
still when we're thinking aboutawareness to action.
So think about your health.
You're aware your body feelstired, but you don't change your
habits.
The cost is burnout, maybe evenillness.
Your career, that job drainsyou.
(10:36):
You don't like it, you don'twant to be there, but you stay.
The cost is those missedopportunities and stagnant
growth, and then you're sittingthere mad at everybody, but you
should really be mad atyourself.
Relationships, you are aware ofa friendship that's toxic, or a
relation, romantic relationshipthat's toxic, but you keep
giving.
(10:56):
The cost is emotional exhaustionand resentment, and I know this
one old all too well.
Dreams, you're aware you want tostart your business, write that
book or go back to school orwhatever it is, but you never
begin it.
You never begin to do it.
The cost is regret.
We don't always measure thosecosts in the moment, but over
(11:16):
time they add up like debt.
So here's the psychology behindit.
When you stay in awareness modewithout action, your brain
builds a comfort zone aroundinaction.
It starts to feel safer to knowthan to do.
The brain actually rewards youwith a little dopamine hit when
you gain insight, that ahamoment.
(11:39):
But then it tricks you intothinking you've done the work.
So you stay put.
And staying put slowly eats awayat your energy, your peace, and
your belief in yourself.
Think of it again like a leakyfaucet.
Drip, drip, drip.
You hear it, you know it'shappening.
That's awareness.
But if you never tighten thepipe or call the plumber, what
(12:01):
happens?
Your water bill goes up, thecart, the cabinet starts to rot.
Eventually, you're paying waymore than if you acted when you
first notice it.
Stillness cost always.
So take a deep breath for me.
Now ask yourself (12:17):
where am I paying the cost of staying
still?
Is it costing me peace?
Is it costing me opportunities?
Is it costing me relationships?
Is it costing me my health?
What bill is in action sendingme right now?
(12:45):
Answer those questions.
What you come what did you comeup with?
I once worked with a woman inleadership who knew she avoided
conflict.
She could name it.
Every time I talked to her, shecould name it, and she was proud
that she was aware of it, butshe never acted on it.
Do you know what it cost her?
Her team stopped respecting her,issues went unaddressed, talent
(13:10):
walked out the door.
And when she finally lookedback, she realized she had been
losing trust little by little,all because she stayed still.
That's what stillness does.
It steals from you quietly,piece by piece, until you wake
up one day and wonder, how did Ilose myself?
(13:35):
How did I get here?
Family, let me tell you this.
Stillness is not safety.
It feels safe because it doesn'trequire risk.
But the longer you stay, theheavier it gets.
And one day you'll realize thatstaying still was the riskiest
(13:55):
move you could have ever made.
Because nothing changes untilyou move.
So here's the bottom line: awareness without action will (14:02):
undefined
cost you.
It might cost you your joy, itmight cost you your health, it
might cost you youropportunities that you don't
even know you missed.
The question you need to sitwith is Am I willing to keep
(14:24):
paying that price?
Or is it time to take the riskof moving?
Alright, family, we've named it.
Awareness is the spark, butstaying still comes with a cost.
Now let's shift gears a littlebit because I don't want you to
just sit in guilt or shame aboutthe areas where you've been
(14:46):
stuck.
That is not what hashtag theauthentic life is about.
This is where we move fromknowing to doing, from seeing to
shifting, from awareness toaction.
And I want to give you fourstrategies that have helped me
and that I've coached othersthrough.
These are simple, not easy, butif you work them, they work.
(15:09):
Strategy number one is name it.
Awareness starts with honesty.
You can't act on what you won'tadmit.
For me, it was saying out loudthat I shrink myself sometimes.
I don't want to do that.
Period.
Full stop.
(15:30):
I'm not gonna do it anymore.
It's like calling a leak a leak,not a drip, not a little
moisture, a leak.
Because when you name itclearly, you can deal with it
clearly.
Right now, I want you to nameone thing you've been circling
around.
Say it out loud.
Don't water it down, don't dressit up.
(15:52):
If you're alone, shout it out.
If you're around people, whisperit, name it.
That naming, that's the firststep toward action.
Strategy two is frame it.
Once you've named it, the nextstep is reframing it.
(16:14):
Because how you talk about athing shapes how you approach
it.
If I say I'm terrible atboundaries, guess what?
My brain shuts down.
I've declared it permanent.
But if I say I'm learning to sayno with confidence, my brain
says, okay, we're on a journey.
Framing shifts from guilt modeto growth mode.
Think of it like this (16:38):
a picture looks different depending on the
frame you put it in.
Same picture, but a goal, but abold goal frame brings out one
thing, while a thin black framebrings out another.
Your words are the frame aroundyour awareness.
(16:58):
Take that thing you just namedand reframe it.
Instead of saying Iprocrastinate, try, I'm trying,
I'm learning to take small stepsconsistently.
Instead of I avoid conflict,try, I'm practicing having
braver conversations.
Say your reframe out loud orwrite it down if you can.
(17:24):
Strategy number three isclaimant.
Here's where awareness turnsinto action.
Take one small immediate step,not 10, just one.
If your awareness is I avoidhard conversations, then claim
it by scheduling oneconversation this week.
If it's I procrastinate, thenclaim it by setting a timer and
(17:45):
working for 10 minutes.
If it's I don't prioritizemyself, claim it by saying no to
one thing this week and restinginstead.
Action doesn't have to be hugeto be holy.
The small steps build themuscles.
Think about a baby learning towalk.
It's not about running amarathon.
(18:06):
It's about taking one step,wobbling, and trying again.
So, what's one small step youcan take today before the sun
goes down?
Not tomorrow, not next week,today.
Say it out loud, write it down,tell somebody.
Strategy four is accountability.
(18:27):
And here's the last one.
You don't have to do this alone.
In fact, you probably shouldn't.
Everybody needs anaccountability partner.
When I'm working on my stuff, Ihave to talk to my friends
because I need people to hold meaccountable, right?
And sometimes you don't want tohave those conversations because
you don't want people to callyou out and call you on it.
(18:50):
But when you do, little bylittle, it can help train you to
hear it yourself, right?
So find you someone.
Accountability doesn't alwayshave to be heavy, it can be
simple, simple as telling yourfriend, ask me if I went to the
gym this week.
Like I said earlier, I need tolose 20 pounds, y'all.
I've gained 20 pounds inprobably eight or nine months.
(19:15):
Even though I don't really looklike it, I need to go, I need to
be at the gym.
I need to be eating lettuce, Ineed to be drinking liquids.
I don't probably even need to bechewing nothing.
I be need to be eating somethings, right?
So ask me if I went to the gymthis week.
So if you, my friend and youlistening to this, ask me, did I
go to the gym?
Or text a coworker, hold me tosend in that email by Friday.
And let me say this (19:38):
if you don't have someone in your
circle to hold you accountable,let me be that person.
Send me a DM, tag me, send me aLinkedIn message, tell me what
action you're claiming, and Iwill celebrate with you when you
move.
You can let me know becauseaccountability is just community
in action.
So, who can hold you accountablethis week?
(19:59):
Name one person, and if no onecomes to mind, commit to tagging
me or sharing it online.
You are not alone in this,right?
These four strategies name it,frame it, claim it,
accountability, they're not aone-time thing, they're a cycle.
You'll repeat them over and overin different seasons of your
life.
But every time you do, you willnotice something.
(20:20):
Action builds confidence, actionbuilds momentum, and momentum
makes the next step easier.
So if awareness is the lightswitch, these strategies are the
steps you take once the lightsare on.
Don't just stare at the room,move the chair, shift the table,
walk through the space, live init differently.
(20:44):
Okay, we almost done.
We're getting there, we'regetting there, right?
So we've talked about awareness,the cost of staying stuck, and I
gave you all a couple ofstrategies to move forward.
But let me tell you something.
I had to learn this the hardway.
Transformation that doesn't justlive in big moments, it actually
shows up in your daily actions.
(21:04):
You don't need a major lifeoverhaul every single week.
Sometimes it's the tiniest shiftthat rewires how you show up.
Everyday actions become everydayauthenticity.
So let's walk through threeeveryday authentic actions you
can take right now.
And I'm gonna give you anexample from my own life because
(21:24):
you know I'm never gonna ask youall to do something that I'm not
willing to do myself.
So the first one is practicingmicro moments of honesty.
Sometimes authenticity isn't agrand declaration, it's a small
correction.
I remember once being a meet ina meeting where someone said
something that didn't sit rightwith me.
The old me would have smiled,nodded, and carried that
(21:47):
frustration home.
But instead I said, actually, Isee it a little different.
It was simple, it was clear, itwas respectful, and do you know
what happened?
The whole conversation shifted.
That was a 10-second act ofauthenticity.
And the takeaway was look forone small place today to be a
(22:09):
little more honest with yourselfor with someone else.
And here's a little reflectionprompt I want you all to think
about.
Where in your day-to-day life doyou tend to go quiet, nod along,
or shrink back?
What's one sentence of honestyyou could try instead?
Number two, build tinyboundaries.
(22:31):
We often think boundaries haveto be these huge confrontations,
like cutting people off orhaving a dramatic talk.
But some of the most powerfulboundaries are the smallest
ones.
For me, it's sometimes settingmy phone on do not disturb at a
certain time.
That one action can give mepeace in the middle of my day or
(22:52):
at night, better rest and moreenergy for my day or the next
morning.
Nobody announced it.
Nobody clapped from me.
I felt it.
Boundaries aren't just walls tokeep people out, they're fences
that protect your peace.
Ask yourself, what's one smallboundary I could build today?
(23:13):
Maybe it's not checking email onthe weekend.
Maybe it's saying I need aminute to think about it before
giving an answer.
Your reflection for this one iswhat's one of what's one area of
your life that feels leaky?
Like your energy, your time,your peace is spilling out.
What boundary could you build tohold that energy better?
(23:35):
The last one, which is one of myfavorites, celebrate the small
wins.
Here's the truth.
Many of us are experts atself-critique, but rookies at
self-celebration.
We will replay a mistake 50times, but give our victories a
two-second nod.
I had a season where I kept alittle jar, and I actually still
(23:57):
do, on my desk at work and on mydesk at home.
Every time I did something I wasproud of, big or small, I would
write it on a slip of paper andI would drop it in.
At the end of the month, I readthem back.
Do you know how much perspectivethat gave me?
Things I would have forgottensuddenly look like evidence of
growth.
(24:17):
Celebration reminds your brain,I'm not just aware, I'm
advancing.
So this is what you should needto be doing.
Celebrate something small everysingle day.
It could be you spoke up whenyou wanted to stay silent, you
went for a walk instead ofscrolled, you said no without
apologizing.
(24:38):
So pause.
So later on, as a reflection forthis one, is name one win from
the rest of the week, no matterhow small.
From the past week, I'm sorry.
Say it out loud, smile when yousay it.
That's your celebration.
Authenticity is not a one-timeevent, it's a daily practice.
And the more you practice, themore, the stronger it gets.
(25:00):
Think of it like brushing yourteeth.
Nobody claps for you, but if youskip it for too long, everybody
notices.
Authenticity is the same way.
It's the everyday actions thatadd up to a life that feels
real, rooted in yours.
So here's what I want you tocarry with you: honesty in small
moments, boundaries that protectyour peace, celebration that
(25:22):
reminds you of your growth.
Those are everyday authenticactions.
They're small, but they compoundover time because awareness may
be the beginning, but action,daily intentional action, is the
bridge to the life you've beenpraying for, working for, and
waiting for.
(25:42):
Y'all, that was good.
We are now at the end.
So let's take a moment tobreathe all that goodness in.
We open today by revisitingwhere we came from.
Season one, all about awareness.
We dug into boundaries,assumptions, ego, and the ways
we trip ourselves up.
And listen, if you haven't goneback to season one or you're
new, I want you to not just tolisten, but to reflect, to
(26:07):
journal, and maybe evenre-listen if you're not new here
with some fresh ears.
Because that's the foundation ofall of this.
That's the groundwork.
That's where we started.
But this season, season two, weare all about the action, about
what it looks like to movedifferently because you know
differently.
Today we sat with the truth thatawareness is only the beginning.
(26:30):
We asked ourselves some hardreflection questions like where
have I confused awareness withprogress?
What do I know but haven't yetshifted?
We talked about the cost ofstaying stuck, that every single
time you recognize but don'trespond, you're training
yourself to tolerate less thanyou deserve.
(26:51):
And then when we got practicalwith strategies, it helped you
move from knowing to doing.
Tiny actions, accountability,breaking those real big goals
into micro moves.
And then we close with everydayauthentic actions, honesty in
small moments, boundaries thatprotect your peace, and the
(27:14):
celebration of your growth.
Family, that's the blueprint.
Awareness plus action equalstransformation.
Say it with me.
Awareness plus action equalstransformation.
Now, I want you to do threethings before we meet again.
(27:35):
Choose one action from today'sepisode and actually do it this
week.
Doesn't matter how small, writeit down, put it in your phone,
whatever works for you, butcommit to it.
The next thing I need you to dois share the episode with
someone you love.
This isn't just for us.
If you know someone who's beencircling awareness but hasn't
(27:57):
stepped into action, send thisto them.
Be the nudge that they need.
And lastly, if you haven'talready, subscribe, review, and
support.
If this podcast spoke to you,subscribe so you never miss an
episode.
Leave a review on Apple Podcastsor Spotify.
Your words help me help morepeople find us.
(28:19):
And if you want to rock with mein a deeper way, you know you
can check out that merch.
Every piece is designed withhashtag the authentic life in
mind to remind you daily of thework you're doing.
You can find that on all of mysocials.
And for those supporters, I havesomething coming for you all
this fall, right in time for theholiday season.
(28:40):
So look for early no early tomid-November for your
opportunity to order some of ournew things that I'm going to
talk about in our next episode.
And listen, when you get yourmerch, tag me on Instagram or
LinkedIn using hashtagtheAuthenticLife.
I want to see you.
I want to celebrate you andshare you with this community.
And for all of those that havealready purchased merch and have
(29:01):
been supporting, thank you.
I really, really, trulyappreciate it.
Now let me leave you with this.
Awareness tells you who you are.
Action shows the world whoyou're becoming.
Season two is about thatbecoming, about shifting from
knowing to living.
And I am so honored to walk thisjourney with you.
(29:23):
So until next time, keeplearning, keep growing, keep
taking those everyday authenticactions.
This is Keisha, and you'relistening to hashtag the
Authentic Life.
I'll see you in the nextepisode.
Peace, love, and blessings.
Well, folks, the episode hascome to an end.
Thank you for hanging out withme on The Authentic Life.
If you love today's episode,don't forget to subscribe
(29:46):
because subscribing is just likean instant invite to more fun,
to more inspiration, and to moreauthentic vibes.
I could also use a review.
So leave a review or share thiswith someone that you feel needs
a little inspiration.
But whatever Whatever you do,let's spread the joy of the
authentic life.
Remember this your authenticself is your greatest gift to
(30:06):
the world, and no one shouldever make you feel like you
aren't.
Until next time, stay true, staybold, and keep living the
authentic life.
Peace, love, and blessings fromyour girl, Keisha.
Hey, hey, hey, it's your girl Keisha, and this is
The Authentic Life.
This isn't your typical podcast.
It's your go-to space for realtalk, bold moves, and
unapologetic living.
Together, we'll laugh, we'llreflect, and we will uncover
what it really means to embraceyour truth.
So grab your favorite drink, getcomfy, and let's dive into all
(00:22):
the magic that is waiting foryou on The Authentic Life.
Hello, hello, hello, and welcomeback.
Your girl has missed you.
Welcome to Hashtag theAuthenticLife.
It has been a minute.
My last episode was in May,y'all.
So just a little refresher and alittle reminder.
Hashtag the AuthenticLife is aspace where we explore what it
(00:44):
really means to live fully, tolive freely, and most
importantly, to liveunapologetically as your true
self.
It's your girl Keisha.
I'm your host, I'm your guide,and most importantly, I might
just be your accountabilitypartner by the end of this
journey.
So whether you're here tuning infrom your car, your office, the
gym, or your favorite cozycorner at home, you know your
(01:07):
girl is just glad that youdecided to be here with her
today.
And if you've been rocking withme since season one, I want to
start by saying thank youbecause you didn't have to do
that.
If you bought merch that cameout of season one, thank you.
I so appreciate you.
And you already know what it is.
You already know that thispodcast is more than just
(01:27):
listening.
We grow over here, we learn overhere, and then we apply what we
have learned in an effort tomake sure that we are growing
daily.
Season one was a deep dive intoawareness.
It was all about who's gonnacheck me, boo.
And it was you checking you.
We asked ourselves toughquestions about how we show up
(01:48):
in the world.
We unpack what it meant to setthose boundaries that we keep
saying that we want to set, butdo them without apologizing.
How do we recognize whenassumptions shape our reality?
And how we check that ego at thedoor before it drives any of our
decisions.
But here's the thing awarenessby itself, that's not enough.
(02:10):
You can know something all day,know your patterns, know your
triggers, know your growthareas, and still never shift how
you live.
Awareness without action, well,that's just observation.
And that's why season two isabout moving from awareness to
action.
Because family, observationwon't change your life, action
(02:34):
will.
So let's start this new journeyof season two together.
Your girl has experienced a lot,your girl has done a lot.
You know, you know, I say doingthe absolute most, but the one
thing that I have tried to doover these last couple of months
is move from being so self-awareof self and putting some stuff
(02:55):
into action.
So we're gonna kick this offabout talking about moving from
awareness to action before wejump into a whole bunch of
topics this season.
So grab your notebook, grab yourcognac, grab your wine, grab
your juice, your soda, whateveryou drink.
Grab it, sit down, listen to me.
If you're in the gym, get yourworkout on, take some notes, do
(03:15):
all the things because now it'stime for us to move to action
and actually do something.
So let's jump this thing off.
Okay, so now let's talk aboutwhat awareness really is.
Awareness, it's like turning onthe light in a dark room.
Suddenly, you can see where thechair is, where the table is,
(03:39):
where the walls are.
You can see all the things youwere tripping over before.
But here's the kicker.
The chair won't move itself, thetable won't shift out of your
way.
You have to decide what to dowith what you now see.
And here's where I need to behonest.
I've had whole seasons of mylife where I thought awareness
(04:00):
was enough.
I'd walk away from therapy or aconversation with a mentor, even
journaling, and saying tomyself, girl, you know what,
you're growing.
You've named the thing, you seethe pattern, you got clarity.
And while, yes, naming andseeing matters, I'd still walk
into another room, anothermeeting, another relationship,
and repeat the same behavior.
(04:21):
And that wasn't growth, that wasjust observation.
I was just a reporter takingnotes on my own life.
Now, don't get me wrong,awareness is powerful, but if
we're not careful, we can makeit, we can mistake it for
progress.
Awareness feels good.
It gives us language, it makesus feel like we're moving
forward.
(04:42):
But without action, it's likebuying a gym membership and
never going.
You feel proud that you'vejoined, but the work hasn't even
started.
I remember a time early in mycareer when I noticed I shut
down in certain spaces.
I'd be in a meeting with leaderswho were who may be a little bit
more seasoned, more outspoken,and I may be a little quiet.
(05:03):
I leave those meetings awarethat I shrank myself, aware that
I had ideas that I never spokeout loud.
And every single time I'd say,Well, at least I recognize it.
That's progress.
But was it?
Because six months later, a yearlater, I may was I may have
still been walking out ofmeeting silent, still watching
(05:24):
my ideas get spoken by somebodyelse, or still shrinking.
Awareness gave me a mirror, butI was just staring back at it.
Here's the psychology of it.
Awareness lives in your mind,action lives in your body.
And until you connect the two,until you actually do something
different, awareness can turninto another form of
(05:46):
procrastination.
It's a comfortable place to hidebecause you feel like you're
working on yourself withoutactually risking change.
Think about it.
How many times have you said, Iknow I need to eat better?
Look, I'm saying that every day.
Your girl has gained some weightand she got to get it off.
And I say that every day andevery Monday I'm starting a
diet, but I digress.
(06:06):
Or I know I need to setboundaries, or I know I need to
stop checking my email firstthing in the morning.
You're aware.
But unless you change the plateyou put in front of you, unless
you actually say the word no,unless you leave your phone in
the other room, that awarenesshasn't shifted your life one
bit.
It's like knowing there's a leakunder your sink.
(06:27):
You're aware of it.
You've seen the drip, drip,drip.
But unless you tighten the pipeor call the plumber, awareness
won't stop the water.
Eventually it's going to costyou more.
It may lead to warped floors,mold, a bigger mess than it was
before.
I want you to take a deep breathwith me right now.
(06:51):
Inhale, exhale.
Now ask yourself, where in mylife have I confused awareness
with progress?
What am I proud of recognizingbut haven't actually changed?
Say it out loud if you can, andif you're in a place where you
(07:13):
can't say it out loud, whisperit to yourself.
Because sometimes hearing yourown voice, admit it, that's the
first step to action.
Then pause for a beat and letthe silence do the work.
Here's something I've learned.
Awareness without actioneventually turns into guilt.
(07:33):
Because the more you seesomething in yourself and ignore
it, ignore it, the heavier itbecomes, the heavier it starts
to feel.
It's like carrying a backpackthat gets heavier every day.
You don't do something about it.
So when people tell me, Keisha,I've been aware of this for
years, my first question is,okay, but what have you done
(07:56):
about it?
Because awareness is only thebeginning, it's the invitation,
it's the starting line, not thefinish line.
Awareness is a gift, but it'snot the goal.
The goal is what you do with it.
The goal is how you movedifferently because of it.
And in this season, we're notjust celebrating the fact that
(08:17):
we can name it, we're pushingourselves to change it.
All right, let's go deeper.
We've talked about how awarenessis only the beginning, but I
want to sit with something wedon't talk about enough.
The cost of actually stayingstill.
Here's the truth inaction is notneutral.
It feels neutral, but it's not.
(08:38):
You think you're just waiting,just processing, just sitting
with it, but the reality isyou're paying a price.
For me, another cost was mypeace.
I remember a time at work when Ibecame aware that I was saying
yes to everything.
And you know me, I say yes to alot of stuff, but it was
(08:59):
probably stuff I was saying yesto that I should have been
saying no to.
Every project, every request,every can you just and I knew I
was overcommitting.
I knew I was running myself intothe ground and could even name
it.
Keisha, you're doing too much.
But here's the truth (09:12):
I didn't change anything.
I kept saying yes because Ididn't want to disappoint
people.
And every yes chipped away atme.
I was exhausted, um, tired,irritated, a little frustrated,
right?
When really I just needed tolook in the mirror.
Awareness without action wascosting me my peace of mind.
(09:32):
I go home at night and still tryto do red, still try to do work
instead of resting.
Um, I replay the day sometimes.
And the story I told myself inthose moments is you can't say
no, because if you do, you'd beletting people down.
You lose their trust.
And for some people, you mayfeel incapable.
And that's where that you'retrying to prove yourself comes
(09:53):
early in your career.
And this was earlier in mycareer.
Um, but that's the thing aboutawareness without movement.
It doesn't just leave you stuck,it builds a narrative in your
head, a narrative that robs youof peace and convinces you that
the cage you're sitting in islocked, when in reality, the
door was open the whole time.
You just had to walk through it.
(10:14):
So here's some everyday thingsthat we can think about when
we're thinking about awarenessto action or the cost of sitting
still when we're thinking aboutawareness to action.
So think about your health.
You're aware your body feelstired, but you don't change your
habits.
The cost is burnout, maybe evenillness.
Your career, that job drainsyou.
(10:36):
You don't like it, you don'twant to be there, but you stay.
The cost is those missedopportunities and stagnant
growth, and then you're sittingthere mad at everybody, but you
should really be mad atyourself.
Relationships, you are aware ofa friendship that's toxic, or a
relation, romantic relationshipthat's toxic, but you keep
giving.
(10:56):
The cost is emotional exhaustionand resentment, and I know this
one old all too well.
Dreams, you're aware you want tostart your business, write that
book or go back to school orwhatever it is, but you never
begin it.
You never begin to do it.
The cost is regret.
We don't always measure thosecosts in the moment, but over
(11:16):
time they add up like debt.
So here's the psychology behindit.
When you stay in awareness modewithout action, your brain
builds a comfort zone aroundinaction.
It starts to feel safer to knowthan to do.
The brain actually rewards youwith a little dopamine hit when
you gain insight, that ahamoment.
(11:39):
But then it tricks you intothinking you've done the work.
So you stay put.
And staying put slowly eats awayat your energy, your peace, and
your belief in yourself.
Think of it again like a leakyfaucet.
Drip, drip, drip.
You hear it, you know it'shappening.
That's awareness.
But if you never tighten thepipe or call the plumber, what
(12:01):
happens?
Your water bill goes up, thecart, the cabinet starts to rot.
Eventually, you're paying waymore than if you acted when you
first notice it.
Stillness cost always.
So take a deep breath for me.
Now ask yourself (12:17):
where am I paying the cost of staying
still?
Is it costing me peace?
Is it costing me opportunities?
Is it costing me relationships?
Is it costing me my health?
What bill is in action sendingme right now?
(12:45):
Answer those questions.
What you come what did you comeup with?
I once worked with a woman inleadership who knew she avoided
conflict.
She could name it.
Every time I talked to her, shecould name it, and she was proud
that she was aware of it, butshe never acted on it.
Do you know what it cost her?
Her team stopped respecting her,issues went unaddressed, talent
(13:10):
walked out the door.
And when she finally lookedback, she realized she had been
losing trust little by little,all because she stayed still.
That's what stillness does.
It steals from you quietly,piece by piece, until you wake
up one day and wonder, how did Ilose myself?
(13:35):
How did I get here?
Family, let me tell you this.
Stillness is not safety.
It feels safe because it doesn'trequire risk.
But the longer you stay, theheavier it gets.
And one day you'll realize thatstaying still was the riskiest
(13:55):
move you could have ever made.
Because nothing changes untilyou move.
So here's the bottom line: awareness without action will (14:02):
undefined
cost you.
It might cost you your joy, itmight cost you your health, it
might cost you youropportunities that you don't
even know you missed.
The question you need to sitwith is Am I willing to keep
(14:24):
paying that price?
Or is it time to take the riskof moving?
Alright, family, we've named it.
Awareness is the spark, butstaying still comes with a cost.
Now let's shift gears a littlebit because I don't want you to
just sit in guilt or shame aboutthe areas where you've been
(14:46):
stuck.
That is not what hashtag theauthentic life is about.
This is where we move fromknowing to doing, from seeing to
shifting, from awareness toaction.
And I want to give you fourstrategies that have helped me
and that I've coached othersthrough.
These are simple, not easy, butif you work them, they work.
(15:09):
Strategy number one is name it.
Awareness starts with honesty.
You can't act on what you won'tadmit.
For me, it was saying out loudthat I shrink myself sometimes.
I don't want to do that.
Period.
Full stop.
(15:30):
I'm not gonna do it anymore.
It's like calling a leak a leak,not a drip, not a little
moisture, a leak.
Because when you name itclearly, you can deal with it
clearly.
Right now, I want you to nameone thing you've been circling
around.
Say it out loud.
Don't water it down, don't dressit up.
(15:52):
If you're alone, shout it out.
If you're around people, whisperit, name it.
That naming, that's the firststep toward action.
Strategy two is frame it.
Once you've named it, the nextstep is reframing it.
(16:14):
Because how you talk about athing shapes how you approach
it.
If I say I'm terrible atboundaries, guess what?
My brain shuts down.
I've declared it permanent.
But if I say I'm learning to sayno with confidence, my brain
says, okay, we're on a journey.
Framing shifts from guilt modeto growth mode.
Think of it like this (16:38):
a picture looks different depending on the
frame you put it in.
Same picture, but a goal, but abold goal frame brings out one
thing, while a thin black framebrings out another.
Your words are the frame aroundyour awareness.
(16:58):
Take that thing you just namedand reframe it.
Instead of saying Iprocrastinate, try, I'm trying,
I'm learning to take small stepsconsistently.
Instead of I avoid conflict,try, I'm practicing having
braver conversations.
Say your reframe out loud orwrite it down if you can.
(17:24):
Strategy number three isclaimant.
Here's where awareness turnsinto action.
Take one small immediate step,not 10, just one.
If your awareness is I avoidhard conversations, then claim
it by scheduling oneconversation this week.
If it's I procrastinate, thenclaim it by setting a timer and
(17:45):
working for 10 minutes.
If it's I don't prioritizemyself, claim it by saying no to
one thing this week and restinginstead.
Action doesn't have to be hugeto be holy.
The small steps build themuscles.
Think about a baby learning towalk.
It's not about running amarathon.
(18:06):
It's about taking one step,wobbling, and trying again.
So, what's one small step youcan take today before the sun
goes down?
Not tomorrow, not next week,today.
Say it out loud, write it down,tell somebody.
Strategy four is accountability.
(18:27):
And here's the last one.
You don't have to do this alone.
In fact, you probably shouldn't.
Everybody needs anaccountability partner.
When I'm working on my stuff, Ihave to talk to my friends
because I need people to hold meaccountable, right?
And sometimes you don't want tohave those conversations because
you don't want people to callyou out and call you on it.
(18:50):
But when you do, little bylittle, it can help train you to
hear it yourself, right?
So find you someone.
Accountability doesn't alwayshave to be heavy, it can be
simple, simple as telling yourfriend, ask me if I went to the
gym this week.
Like I said earlier, I need tolose 20 pounds, y'all.
I've gained 20 pounds inprobably eight or nine months.
(19:15):
Even though I don't really looklike it, I need to go, I need to
be at the gym.
I need to be eating lettuce, Ineed to be drinking liquids.
I don't probably even need to bechewing nothing.
I be need to be eating somethings, right?
So ask me if I went to the gymthis week.
So if you, my friend and youlistening to this, ask me, did I
go to the gym?
Or text a coworker, hold me tosend in that email by Friday.
And let me say this (19:38):
if you don't have someone in your
circle to hold you accountable,let me be that person.
Send me a DM, tag me, send me aLinkedIn message, tell me what
action you're claiming, and Iwill celebrate with you when you
move.
You can let me know becauseaccountability is just community
in action.
So, who can hold you accountablethis week?
(19:59):
Name one person, and if no onecomes to mind, commit to tagging
me or sharing it online.
You are not alone in this,right?
These four strategies name it,frame it, claim it,
accountability, they're not aone-time thing, they're a cycle.
You'll repeat them over and overin different seasons of your
life.
But every time you do, you willnotice something.
(20:20):
Action builds confidence, actionbuilds momentum, and momentum
makes the next step easier.
So if awareness is the lightswitch, these strategies are the
steps you take once the lightsare on.
Don't just stare at the room,move the chair, shift the table,
walk through the space, live init differently.
(20:44):
Okay, we almost done.
We're getting there, we'regetting there, right?
So we've talked about awareness,the cost of staying stuck, and I
gave you all a couple ofstrategies to move forward.
But let me tell you something.
I had to learn this the hardway.
Transformation that doesn't justlive in big moments, it actually
shows up in your daily actions.
(21:04):
You don't need a major lifeoverhaul every single week.
Sometimes it's the tiniest shiftthat rewires how you show up.
Everyday actions become everydayauthenticity.
So let's walk through threeeveryday authentic actions you
can take right now.
And I'm gonna give you anexample from my own life because
(21:24):
you know I'm never gonna ask youall to do something that I'm not
willing to do myself.
So the first one is practicingmicro moments of honesty.
Sometimes authenticity isn't agrand declaration, it's a small
correction.
I remember once being a meet ina meeting where someone said
something that didn't sit rightwith me.
The old me would have smiled,nodded, and carried that
(21:47):
frustration home.
But instead I said, actually, Isee it a little different.
It was simple, it was clear, itwas respectful, and do you know
what happened?
The whole conversation shifted.
That was a 10-second act ofauthenticity.
And the takeaway was look forone small place today to be a
(22:09):
little more honest with yourselfor with someone else.
And here's a little reflectionprompt I want you all to think
about.
Where in your day-to-day life doyou tend to go quiet, nod along,
or shrink back?
What's one sentence of honestyyou could try instead?
Number two, build tinyboundaries.
(22:31):
We often think boundaries haveto be these huge confrontations,
like cutting people off orhaving a dramatic talk.
But some of the most powerfulboundaries are the smallest
ones.
For me, it's sometimes settingmy phone on do not disturb at a
certain time.
That one action can give mepeace in the middle of my day or
(22:52):
at night, better rest and moreenergy for my day or the next
morning.
Nobody announced it.
Nobody clapped from me.
I felt it.
Boundaries aren't just walls tokeep people out, they're fences
that protect your peace.
Ask yourself, what's one smallboundary I could build today?
(23:13):
Maybe it's not checking email onthe weekend.
Maybe it's saying I need aminute to think about it before
giving an answer.
Your reflection for this one iswhat's one of what's one area of
your life that feels leaky?
Like your energy, your time,your peace is spilling out.
What boundary could you build tohold that energy better?
(23:35):
The last one, which is one of myfavorites, celebrate the small
wins.
Here's the truth.
Many of us are experts atself-critique, but rookies at
self-celebration.
We will replay a mistake 50times, but give our victories a
two-second nod.
I had a season where I kept alittle jar, and I actually still
(23:57):
do, on my desk at work and on mydesk at home.
Every time I did something I wasproud of, big or small, I would
write it on a slip of paper andI would drop it in.
At the end of the month, I readthem back.
Do you know how much perspectivethat gave me?
Things I would have forgottensuddenly look like evidence of
growth.
(24:17):
Celebration reminds your brain,I'm not just aware, I'm
advancing.
So this is what you should needto be doing.
Celebrate something small everysingle day.
It could be you spoke up whenyou wanted to stay silent, you
went for a walk instead ofscrolled, you said no without
apologizing.
(24:38):
So pause.
So later on, as a reflection forthis one, is name one win from
the rest of the week, no matterhow small.
From the past week, I'm sorry.
Say it out loud, smile when yousay it.
That's your celebration.
Authenticity is not a one-timeevent, it's a daily practice.
And the more you practice, themore, the stronger it gets.
(25:00):
Think of it like brushing yourteeth.
Nobody claps for you, but if youskip it for too long, everybody
notices.
Authenticity is the same way.
It's the everyday actions thatadd up to a life that feels
real, rooted in yours.
So here's what I want you tocarry with you: honesty in small
moments, boundaries that protectyour peace, celebration that
(25:22):
reminds you of your growth.
Those are everyday authenticactions.
They're small, but they compoundover time because awareness may
be the beginning, but action,daily intentional action, is the
bridge to the life you've beenpraying for, working for, and
waiting for.
(25:42):
Y'all, that was good.
We are now at the end.
So let's take a moment tobreathe all that goodness in.
We open today by revisitingwhere we came from.
Season one, all about awareness.
We dug into boundaries,assumptions, ego, and the ways
we trip ourselves up.
And listen, if you haven't goneback to season one or you're
new, I want you to not just tolisten, but to reflect, to
(26:07):
journal, and maybe evenre-listen if you're not new here
with some fresh ears.
Because that's the foundation ofall of this.
That's the groundwork.
That's where we started.
But this season, season two, weare all about the action, about
what it looks like to movedifferently because you know
differently.
Today we sat with the truth thatawareness is only the beginning.
(26:30):
We asked ourselves some hardreflection questions like where
have I confused awareness withprogress?
What do I know but haven't yetshifted?
We talked about the cost ofstaying stuck, that every single
time you recognize but don'trespond, you're training
yourself to tolerate less thanyou deserve.
(26:51):
And then when we got practicalwith strategies, it helped you
move from knowing to doing.
Tiny actions, accountability,breaking those real big goals
into micro moves.
And then we close with everydayauthentic actions, honesty in
small moments, boundaries thatprotect your peace, and the
(27:14):
celebration of your growth.
Family, that's the blueprint.
Awareness plus action equalstransformation.
Say it with me.
Awareness plus action equalstransformation.
Now, I want you to do threethings before we meet again.
(27:35):
Choose one action from today'sepisode and actually do it this
week.
Doesn't matter how small, writeit down, put it in your phone,
whatever works for you, butcommit to it.
The next thing I need you to dois share the episode with
someone you love.
This isn't just for us.
If you know someone who's beencircling awareness but hasn't
(27:57):
stepped into action, send thisto them.
Be the nudge that they need.
And lastly, if you haven'talready, subscribe, review, and
support.
If this podcast spoke to you,subscribe so you never miss an
episode.
Leave a review on Apple Podcastsor Spotify.
Your words help me help morepeople find us.
(28:19):
And if you want to rock with mein a deeper way, you know you
can check out that merch.
Every piece is designed withhashtag the authentic life in
mind to remind you daily of thework you're doing.
You can find that on all of mysocials.
And for those supporters, I havesomething coming for you all
this fall, right in time for theholiday season.
(28:40):
So look for early no early tomid-November for your
opportunity to order some of ournew things that I'm going to
talk about in our next episode.
And listen, when you get yourmerch, tag me on Instagram or
LinkedIn using hashtagtheAuthenticLife.
I want to see you.
I want to celebrate you andshare you with this community.
And for all of those that havealready purchased merch and have
(29:01):
been supporting, thank you.
I really, really, trulyappreciate it.
Now let me leave you with this.
Awareness tells you who you are.
Action shows the world whoyou're becoming.
Season two is about thatbecoming, about shifting from
knowing to living.
And I am so honored to walk thisjourney with you.
(29:23):
So until next time, keeplearning, keep growing, keep
taking those everyday authenticactions.
This is Keisha, and you'relistening to hashtag the
Authentic Life.
I'll see you in the nextepisode.
Peace, love, and blessings.
Well, folks, the episode hascome to an end.
Thank you for hanging out withme on The Authentic Life.
If you love today's episode,don't forget to subscribe
(29:46):
because subscribing is just likean instant invite to more fun,
to more inspiration, and to moreauthentic vibes.
I could also use a review.
So leave a review or share thiswith someone that you feel needs
a little inspiration.
But whatever Whatever you do,let's spread the joy of the
authentic life.
Remember this your authenticself is your greatest gift to
(30:06):
the world, and no one shouldever make you feel like you
aren't.
Until next time, stay true, staybold, and keep living the
authentic life.
Peace, love, and blessings fromyour girl, Keisha.
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