Episode Transcript
[00:00:07] Speaker A: You gotta be bold. This story gotta be told own your fierceness gon and glow. This is Sonja Empowers show.
Stay on go like a lion who on the prowl Sonja Sells help you get it. We doing it and doing it now.
[00:00:28] Speaker B: Hey Empowered disruptors. Welcome back to the Sonja Empowers show where I ignite your online business and help you own your fierceness, embrace your unique beauty, talents and strengths, rise above fear and step into your destiny as you build empires and shatter expectations together.
If you're new here, this is your 10 minute power blast to unleash that inner roar and reclaim your fierce.
I'm Sonya and I'm thrilled to be back with a renewed sense of purpose.
Recently, my business underwent a temporary shutdown which was a vital time for me to truly practice my four Rs.
Reflect, Rest, Reset and rejuvenate.
I started this a few years ago, maybe in 2019, and I did a winter shutdown. I had clients who were practicing that and absolutely loved it. And I was like, let me try and see if I can pull it off as an executive assistant. So 2019, it was kind of a flop because my mindset had me worried that my clients would need me. But then 2020 on, I was really firm in that area because I knew as much brain power that I was using that by the end of the year, I really needed a time to reflect on my goals. I needed a time to rest, mentally, spiritually, everything.
I needed a time to reset, right, and get ready for the upcoming year and just have a renewed sense of purpose.
So this year, 2025, I decided that I would try a summer shutdown for my business. And even though I am a one woman show, I don't have any employees. You know, sometimes I contract out with my team, but for the most part I'm a one woman show.
And so I decided to do a summer shutdown and absolutely loved it. So I was like, from here on out, I will have two shutdowns, one in the summer and one in the winter.
So let me tell you, so many exciting insights emerged from that period about how I can best serve you, my incredible audience, all without neglecting my core values or the things that matters most to me. I don't know about anyone else, but it just feels like time has accelerated. And we have always wondered, like, where did the time go, right? It always feels as though we don't have enough time in the day to get it all done, but now it feels like that has accelerated even more.
And so with all the exciting things that's on the horizon for me and the business. I was like, okay, I really need to go back to the drawing board to rethink some things because I am a passion based entrepreneur and that means that oftentimes I turn passions into online businesses. And so I never want to lose my passion for the things that I know I have been called to do. Right? And so one of the things that I know without a shadow of a doubt is that I am called to have this podcast show. It's a free podcast show, my way of pouring back into you. But I absolutely love what I do, and I don't want to lose passion or feel burned out early in the game. And I've seen that happen to where by. By the time people have done done like their 10th show, their 20th show, they're like, I'm done with this. I'm not saying a return on my investment. I'm done. And so I want to make sure that everything that I do really, I don't neglect those core values. Right? I feel like everybody should have their core values. And when you start building a business or building your life around your core values, then you will stop settling, you will stop compromising, Right?
So with that being said, I wanted to get back to my original vision for this free podcast. And that is to provide you with that quick, powerful burst of empowerment you need to unleash your inner lioness and reclaim your fierceness. Okay, this is not some cliche. It's a lot of things that is about to be on the horizon. And so I am really on a mission to create a movement of untamed women. Okay, it is time out. We're not going to be bound anymore. We are going to roar like the lioness that we are because we have extraordinary gifts and talents that we need to share with the world.
So today, we're diving straight into a topic that often holds us back.
A sneaky beast that's silently stealing your time, your energy, and your peace.
You're wondering, what is that? Well, my friend, it's false responsibilities.
So let me ask you this, fierce one.
Do you find yourself not having enough time in the day?
Do you feel as though those around you treat you as if you have eight tentacles and you're being pulled all over the place?
Do you feel, at the end of the day, like, weighty, frustrated, sometimes resentful? You're like, you're tired.
You can't even enjoy the rewards of, of your day because it's so weighty from everyone pulling on you, looking at you as Being that superwoman, right?
So if you're nodding your head and saying, yes, sister, that is me, well, chances are you're suffering from false responsibility.
And I have been there as well throughout the years.
So when the heck are false responsibilities?
So this little sneaky beast is when you take on burdens, tasks, or even emotional labor that funding fundamentally, mentally, excuse me, do not belong to you. So you're taking on all these false responsibilities.
You know, you hear a piece of bad news, right? And you, you have empathy, you show compassion, but then it's that emotional weight of it, right?
Or you find yourself where it's like the same people that's just pulling on you and it's just emotionally draining. Or, you know, it's always just some kind of task. It's always some kind of burden. It's just like, oh my gosh, I don't want to face the day because there is so much that's hitting me throughout my day.
So it's. It's carrying the weight of someone else immaturity. Let's just put it out there because I'm so sick and tired of seeing women suffer in silence in particularly, you know, so it's carrying the weight of someone else immaturity, their lack of accountability, or their refusal to step up and grow up.
Okay, so think of it like this. You're walking around with a backpack. So close your eyes and really see this imagery. You're walking around with a backpack filled with rocks.
But those rocks were put there by someone else who just didn't want to carry their own load, right?
And so why do we do it?
Well, sometimes it's out of a misplaced sense of duty. Like we just feel like it's our duty to carry everyone else burden.
It may be a desire to, quote, unquote, fix things, or even a fear of conflict. Sometimes you just say yes because it's easier to say yes than to, you know, experience the toxicity of that individual. You know? You know, if you buck the system, then it's going to be a fight on your hands, so to speak. So you just say yes for the sake of saying yes, right?
But let's be real. Often the very people pulling on us the most are the ones who have neglected to grow up to take accountability or challenge themselves for anything greater. Because let me tell you from personal experience, it takes a lot of courage, energy, work, sometimes some tears to put in that inner work that is needed to become a better version of yourself. And then once you become that better version of yourself, you are always being Stretched to the next level. And every next level that you are on, you are a newbie on that next level. So things are scary because it's new and it's unfamiliar and it's easy to run. It's easy to want to, you know, put that responsibility on someone else. Right? But at the end of the day, the root of it is you don't want to take accountability or that person doesn't want to take accountability, or they don't want to challenge themselves for anything greater.
Because getting to the greater, it's going to require some work, it's going to require some sweat, it's going to require some true grit and hustle, especially in the beginning stages. I'm on my weight loss journey and I'm telling you I'm 45 and I know it's not impossible to lose weight, but I tell you, since I've had gallbladder surgery, I'm still having bouts where I need to increase my energy, right? There are times where I have sciatica pain out of nowhere, and it will be on the days where my mind is made up. I am about to hit the ground running, doing some intensity workouts, but that's not the season I'm in. So I have to listen to my body, right? I have to be kind to myself. And sometimes when I'm not able to to do certain things because my body is just not in agreement, I'm like, okay, well, I can't, you know, do lower body exercises because of. Right? Thus I addict. But let me work on my upper body or let me just increase my water intake, okay?
So with that being said, right, let's talk about roaring back tips to break free and y', all. I promise that I am trying my best as we begin to do more and more episodes to really cap this off at 10 minutes.
But right now I feel like this subject is so important and I'm pretty sure you can hear my passion, but it is time to roar back, you know. So let me give you some tips to break free, because that's what it's all about. It's breaking free from the old mindsets and behaviors and even people, places, things that's keeping you bound and keeping you tamed and keeping you, you know, feeling icky, right?
So your health on all levels, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, is a precious asset. Tell yourself I am a precious asset, okay? It cannot and will not become a liability because you continue to fill that backpack with someone else's rocks, okay? You have to have a made up mind that I'M no longer filling my backpack with someone else's rocks. Like, you don't even want your own rocks. You want some treasures in that backpack, right?
All right, so it's time to roar back and reclaim your power.
So here are three fierce tips to break free.
One, identify your rocks. Get crystal clear on what you're carrying that isn't yours. Is it a friend's constant financial woes you feel obligated to solve? Is it a family member's emotional drama?
You're always mediating, right? Like you're not a mediator.
Make a mental or physical list.
Awareness is the first step to liberation.
Two, set lioness boundaries. This is where your roar comes in.
Boundaries are not about being mean. They're about self preservation. It could be saying no to a request that drains you.
Suggesting resources instead of personally solving problems. Or even taking a step back from relationships that are constantly one sided, right?
Remember, a no to someone else can be a yes to yourself.
Catch that.
And three, prioritize your pride. All right, so your pride here is referencing your well being. Start dedicating time and energy to your goals, your passions and and your growth.
When you invest in yourself, you naturally have less bandwidth for the burdens that are not yours. This is not being selfish. It's essential for your continued reign.
All right, Linus, it is time for your fab assignment. You guessed it. Your fast action breakthrough. Okay, right, So I should say your fierce action breakthrough. Okay. For this week. Okay, so your fab assignment is to choose one false responsibility you are currently carrying and take one concrete action to release it.
Maybe it's having a direct but kind conversation with someone.
Maybe it's simply saying no to the next request that isn't truly yours.
Maybe it's blocking out time in your schedule just for you and not letting anyone infringe upon it.
Don't overthink it. Just pick one. Take that fierce action and feel the weight lift.
Remember, you are not a dumping ground.
Your inner lioness is here to protect your health, your time, and your peace.
Unleash that roar.
Fierce. One, you are free. Fierce. Okay, tell yourself I am fierce.
It is time for me to unleash that roar.
All right, so I'll catch you next time on the Sonja Empowers show, where we continue to break free and build a life you were meant to live.
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the Sonya Empower Show.
I'd love to hear your feedback. Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Like, there's so many people that say like, I'm really enjoying your podcast, but leave a review on those podcast platforms so we can help spread the word.
Also, connect with me on social media. I love interacting with new individuals. If you enjoyed this episode, please like share and subscribe.
For more business empowerment resources, visit sonjasells.com and for additional resources on personal growth and inspiration, visit chakeletdrapinspired.com until next time. Empowered Disruptors Break free. Be fierce.
