Episode 7 - Embracing the Layers: Power in the Pause with Heidi Blackie
By Jessica Garrison
Our next guest is curious, compassionate, optimistic, loyal, and a lifelong learner. Heidi Blackie has accomplished so much in her life, and she’s here to share her story and what else she hopes to accomplish in the future.
Heidi’s family is full of perfectionists, and if you’re trying to be a perfect person, you’ll be trying for the rest of your life. With society teaching us to do whatever it takes to blend in, Heidi never felt like she was enough. We have to spend our adult lives unraveling what we thought we should be into who we actually are because it’s so important we discover our true selves. It’s been an evolution for Heidi, just as it is for anyone, and she has reached acceptance in herself and her layers. Once you reach that piece of accepting the layered aspects of yourself, you’re on track of living life authentically and unapologetically.
A phrase Heidi used in this episode, “power in the pause,” is a great reminder of taking a pause before responding to them. Before responding, she takes a breath and thinks of what she’ll say before she says it. This sounds easy enough, but more people need to hear it: think before you speak.
We have so much power within ourselves without even realizing, and Heidi works to pull that out of people as she has been able to do for herself. She responds with openness and kindness rather than with suspicion or defensiveness. Choose where you want to come from as a person, and think of the best response that expresses that when you’re in the power of the pause.
In living out of her own expectations, Heidi is okay with being different which, like I said, isn’t what we’re taught to do. We’re raised to change ourselves to fit in with the crowd and put ourselves into a singular box. However, we are multifaceted people with many layers to us, and they are all valid in who we are. When we see the value in that, we see the value of nurturing that soul and taking care of ourselves the way we deserve. Heidi says that we have to be vulnerable with ourselves to make that connection within, and the reward is worth it. It’s freeing to accept yourself and move forward with knowing yourself.
Heidi has such a big heart, supporting people in finding themselves, building confidence, and moving forward with their life and their newfound skills. Join Melissa and Heidi in their conversation of the journey to finding empowerment and embracing layers.
Ways to Engage: Sometimes when you sit down to work on a project, it takes longer than you’re expecting. Give yourself a time limit on whatever you’re working on so you aren’t spending your entire day on one thing without taking time to care for yourself, taking a breath, eating, moving your body, or resting your brain. Prioritize what’s most important, set a limit for it, and don’t forget to include self-care!