Light Up Your Life: Following What Excites and Scares You

Today on Light Up With Adera, I sat down with three incredible women from the Light Up community for a heartfelt conversation about what happens when you stop waiting for certainty and start saying yes to the things that truly light you up.

Together we explored what it means to trust the process—even when the path ahead feels unknown. We talked about leaving comfort zones, following unexpected opportunities, moving through fear, and taking those tiny courageous steps toward the life and business you're dreaming of.

From launching businesses and hosting retreats to building communities and listening to divine guidance, this conversation is full of honest stories, laughter, wisdom, and reminders that you do not need all the answers before you begin.

Inside this episode we discuss:

✨ Why fear often shows up right before growth
 ✨ The power of community and support
 ✨ Taking "one small step" instead of trying to leap the whole mountain
 ✨ Trusting signs, intuition, and unexpected opportunities
 ✨ Moving beyond self-doubt and limiting stories
 ✨ Why what scares you may also be what lights you up most

If you've been putting off the thing you know you're meant to do, this episode may be the encouragement you need.

Because sometimes you’re not stepping off a cliff…

You’re simply stepping off the curb.

Featuring

Meghan Simington: https://meghansimington.com/

Paige Stevensen: https://theintuitiveadvisor.com/

Sally from Noelle James Home https://noellejameshome.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:03

Hiya, it's my birthday today, and we're doing a very special episode. Bringing on some of my members from my light up membership and friends here. We have three beautiful ladies that have shown up today to do an impromptu podcast on how they have stepped into the things that light them up, how they have dared themselves to go for it, even when we have no idea what is gonna transpire, even though we have our own idea of what we'd like, and then what actually is could be completely different, and how we work through all of that uncomfortability and the unknown in a way where we don't go crazy. And when I mean crazy, I mean wanting to control, wanting to grasp, wanting to know what the next right thing will be and going with the flow and relaxing in and just trusting the process. So today I have Sally from Noelle James Home, I have Paige Stevenson from your angelic numerologist, and I have Megan Simmington with the Female Forward Collective. And uh we are all a wonderful group of women entrepreneurs who are living in our light, doing the things that are creating joy and fulfillment for uh what we feel like our purpose is here at this time and space on the planet. And I just wanted to get their feedback on what it's like when we take a risk and we go for it when we have no guarantee that it's gonna work out. Um who wants to touch on that first? What about you, Sally, since you just started your business a year ago? It's uh 2025, six, four. What when did you start it? 2024, just in case someone listens to this later. 25. Right, okay. Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

Yeah, so I had a very um interesting healthcare career for about 25 years, and um decided I was done with that, and I wanted to be more creative and be more consistently in my joy, and so I took a huge leap of faith and nine months ago stepped into this business uh full-time, making furniture and home decor and doing corporate gifting and um all the things.

SPEAKER_03 2:26

How it's expanded, how it's grown, how it's shifted.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Yep. Um, saying yes to many things I never thought I would say yes to. And um, and it's my favorite place to be. And I have never been so calm, and people see that.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

Beautiful. Uh well, I think following the joy is the whole name of the game, and we just need to have the courage and the absolute will to want that enough that we we work our life in a way that can allow that part of us to shine. Um, Megan, tell me a little bit about how your career has shifted and changed because you do do business consulting and strategy, but also you've created a beautiful community and network now of women entrepreneurs, which you're just really gifted at PS.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Thank you, Adara. I honestly just feel so much gratitude. I worked um from home uh doing consulting for the last two and a half years. I've been in business for 15 years doing it on the side of my desk. Um, I worked corporate for a long, long time. And when I went out on my own, I really just wanted to focus on connecting with businesses that I believed in their story. Um, and then with that, it was the idea that I was working, you know, at home on Zoom. I was on Zoom all the time. And I was in a very male-dominated industry, being professional services and real estate. Um, so I just feel so blessed. Uh, I set up a breakfast, which was 10 women, and now we have on average about a hundred women showing up every month that Dara's been a speaker. We've had so many amazing speakers. Um, and I just look out of the over the room and just now believe that if we put that energy out there, the right people are going to be attracted to it. And we don't need to be scared of you know putting those big ideas out there because there's other people that will look at how many billions of people on the planet.

SPEAKER_03 4:18

So good. And Paige, talk to us a bit about how we need to trust into I don't know, if it's spiritual guidance, new numerology guidance, or just our own innate guidance. Like, how do you keep your course? Even though, like Sally was saying, too, like so many ideas can kind of come and you can say yes to many things. And then sometimes that can feel like you've you've lengthened and expanded yourself instead of focused yourself uh to get to your goal. And how do you just navigate through all of the decisions that one needs to make to get to where they're trying to go?

SPEAKER_02 4:52

Well it's um gosh, where do I begin? Well, I I just want to comment on what Sally had to say because Sally, you made a reference to nine months ago, you started something, and I was gonna shout out, Look what's your birthing.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

I had I actually said that to Dan this week. I'm like, oh, I see now things are really shifting. Right?

SPEAKER_02 5:22

Yeah, um, it's so it's easy for some people to just look at you and and get a sense, like just us in general, of you know, well, they must be have doing this for a long time, or they've got a lot of people around them. And sometimes that's not the case at all. Sometimes there are what I refer to as a lone wolf, and a lone wolf always finds its pack. And I'm one of those people because I'm a very strong female that believes in what I do, but for years and years, I can't tell you how many years, but many years I was not allowing myself to go beyond my little circle. It was like um, I was so if you can imagine a little town in the middle of crack butt nowhere. Um, and that's where I stayed. And and everybody around was going, oh, oh, page, page, page, page, page. And then one day I went, Hey, wait a minute, there's gotta be more people out there. And I want to find them. And it's what I call being bold. And as much as I'm an extrovert and I speak out of my head, I don't hold everything in. I'm an I'm a speakout loud person, I am my worst enemy also. And I'm now loving myself and I have very valuable words to be heard, and now the earth is my platform. And watch out, Earth, because here I come.

SPEAKER_03 6:58

Oh, yeah. But would you say that's it?

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Is being bold and loving ourselves to get to where like to find the path instead of so oftentimes we're looking outside of ourselves for the answers, and a lot of times people have their own story that they're telling themselves as to why they can't do something. Oh, I can't do that because I'm too much this or too much that, and that's part of your healing, believe it or not. When you can identify what's slowing you down, have somebody come around you that's a healer, like myself, and can address that a little deeper and help get rid of it. Because my own conditioning from my childhood is what was stopping me. Now that's a whole story. I I wrote a book on that. Um, but that's like that's one of the areas because we have our own little dialogue in our head. Uh, we don't naturally go, oh yes, I'm gonna be this when I grow up, and it unfolds exactly that way. No, that's not how it works out. No, and it might not be far off, but if you talk to people that have made it, uh you'll hear how their story got started, how it started out in this town and ended up in this town, and they they can't really tell you how that happened. Right because that's where the universe is stepping in and going, huh, we're going this way now, and then we're gonna go this way.

SPEAKER_03 8:29

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:30

And it just keeps evolving and evolving. In like think of your own group, Adara. Like this group, how it's expanded and evolved into what it is.

SPEAKER_03 8:41

When you thought of it originally, it was this size, and now it's or it's different, it's just different than what it what I originally had maybe even set out for it to be, too.

SPEAKER_02 8:52

And it's gonna expand and flow out even more. Yeah, it'll just keep going and going.

SPEAKER_03 8:57

Yeah, which brings me just to Megan and the community aspect, like finding other is it like-minded? Is it there people that are in the same like frequency or agency as you where you're sort of supporting each other?

SPEAKER_02 9:09

Frequency, yep. I call it the radio dial system, right? Um, back in the day we had our radios, and you know, it was so cool when you got FM. It was like, oh, we got an FM station. All right, so I'm at this number, and what what do you listen to? Oh, you're at that number. And then as soon as we get to the same number, oh we're succinct. But if we're always on this different numbers, we'll never be succinct together. Yeah, so it's not that one's right and one's wrong. We're just at a different radio station, and that's how you need to look at it.

SPEAKER_03 9:42

Thanks, Paige. Appreciate that. Uh Megan, can you speak to the community aspect?

SPEAKER_00 9:47

Yeah, I think you know, is just being open and being humble to the messages and the people that reach out to you. I read a book many years ago that people are putting into your life for a reason, whether it's for, you know, a moment, a lifetime or a reason, right? And I'm always surprised by the people when I first meet them and I'm thinking, I don't know why this person has now popped up in my life. Right. And then all of a sudden I'm standing on a stage speaking, or I'm invited or introduced to a client, or I'm just working on a really cool project. So I think just being open to the people that show up into a community, and you never know what's going to come from those relationships. Like it honestly just gives me chills, you know, the people that I've met, you know, throughout my career, but also in the last two years, um, even just meeting with Paige, Paige flipped a card for me at one of my events and I now have it on my fridge, and it's just a reminder that we can be the light and I and be the light in a community. And it's just something I've definitely held close to my heart is you never know who's in the room.

SPEAKER_03 10:49

So good. So, what do we say to people listening when fear is coming up for them? Uh, when we maybe ask them or I dare them to do the thing that they may have been putting off or the thing that they've been craving. And fear comes up, uh, financial insecurities come up, um, abilities, not enoughness comes up. Uh, what what kind of things do you say to yourself to push past those blocks?

SPEAKER_01 11:21

Just do one thing. That's what I was telling myself. Just do one thing, just do one thing to move the business forward today. And then it got easier and easier. And and being curious, like Megan said, about who who all of a sudden is showing up in your in your world. Be curious about those people. They often have really cool stories, um, and you can connect different ways with them. And it might not be right away that you see something come out of it. It it could be down the line, but be curious and do one thing.

SPEAKER_03 11:58

Be curious, do one thing.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

One thing.

SPEAKER_03 12:02

That means I need to get my trajectory runners on and go for a run right after this. But that's good. Okay, I'm gonna do that thing. Um, Megan, what would be your belief blocker kick?

SPEAKER_00 12:16

Well, I something that I have always thought is very similar to what Sally was just saying, like, just do the one thing and that Mel Robbins, like 5-4-3-2-1. That got me through some pretty dark days of going through a divorce with uh a young, young, two young children. And I just was like, get out of the bed, just take those steps, you're gonna get this done today. But I think with fear, it's like when you get out of the bed, it's the next step. It's like, who is on my hit list? Who's in my front row? Is it a Dara that I text message and I'm like, am I nuts? And she's like, Well, kind of, but you should totally do this. And is it, you know, the friends that I can send a website to or a landing page, and I'm like, this is what I've done? They're like, I love this, but maybe you should make these little tweaks to it because it would speak more to me. And it's having those trusted people in your community where you can bounce ideas off and it's just a safe place to land, you know, it's it's that person that gets you and and keeps your heart safe, but gives you that feedback.

SPEAKER_03 13:10

That's beautiful. I think that's definitely a must for me as well. Uh for me and that doing the one thing. Absolutely. I do both those things.

SPEAKER_02 13:18

Okay, Paige, what do you got for me when fear I've um I've had back in the day, I had depression, and I know what it's like not being able to get out of bed. I it's it's a tough thing to do. Uh, it's been a while since I've been in that space, and I'm thankful that it has departed the gate and has gone off in a plane somewhere because I don't need it anymore. But at the time when you're going through it, your brain is so muddled, it's hard to think of anything. And I love that reference to the Mel Robbins 54321. That it just breaks the pattern in your head. But but because I'm who I am and I work, I've been working with the angels for years now. Now, when I get because I'm when I go through stuff, I always default to my angels and I always ask them. And you may not uh believe in the angels, you may have a different higher power that you call something else. I'm not here to change your mind. Call on your divine energy and say, help me find the person that is this, the right uh networking group, the right market, the right uh podcaster, the right book to read, the right whatever you're looking for, or you might not even know what to call it. Just show me something that's gonna help me feel better. Show me the people that can help me. Just show me the where can I go? What can I do?

SPEAKER_03 14:49

Just be bold, just and then and then you have to believe that you're worthy of it and say yes, because what happens is sometimes those opportunities show up and then we don't bite and we don't buy the ticket because we have all the reasons, it's too expensive. I don't know how this is gonna work. I don't know if this is the person for me. And then the universe is like, okay, well, you said you wanted this thing, I presented it to you, and you're not you're not taking it. And so I think also we have to trust ourselves that when those moments come, also feel into the feeling like I know when some opportunities have presented themselves, there's a little bit of a resistance in the sense that it feels like it's the right thing for me to do, but there's something in me that's kind of saying, uh I don't know if this is it. And then there's other opportunities that come to me that I'm dead scared about saying yes to, but I'm excited about it. And I know for me, following my light, that thing that excites me and also scares me is exactly the rooms that I need to be putting myself into. Um so that's that's the name of the game for me anyway. Yes. As I grow and evolve into the next reiteration of whatever it is that I'm wanting to share with people. I always find that fascinating too, and we're our own person doing our work. You know, we're we're really wanting to find the fulfillment and joy in what we're doing. And then we also want to service the people that we feel like we're best suited for. I mean, but you know, when you were saying, Paige, I really want to make sure that what I say is hitting the people in the way that I want it to hit them. Well, that's a lot of responsibility to take on. And I think the real question and the real work is finding our own voice and trusting it and knowing that exactly how it's coming out is the exact way that it is meant to be heard to the people that are meant to hear it. And that's something that I I'm learning and leaning into because oftentimes I'll get off a stage and be like, God, I should have said this, and why did I say that? And I'll watch my speaking stuff and I'll be like, Jesus Christ, you kind of went on there and you didn't really, you know, make it a cute little bow about it. And then I have to give myself grace because people after, you know, not everyone, but there'll be three or four people maybe after that say, you know, I really resonated with what you said, and you know, this really hit me. And then I go, Great, well, I guess I was speaking to you then in that moment, right? That's all I can do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:18

Uh is anything because we've heard that before. We're our own worst critic.

SPEAKER_03 17:22

For sure, for sure. Don't know where we built that critic up from, but it's something that's keeping us safe and just in a little box of I don't know, the critic just needs to go. I'm just not I'm not a fan. I'm not a fan. Be gone now. Yeah, be gone. Um, is there anything else you want to leave the people with in regards to uh just going for it, just going for it today, trusting in the unknown, trusting the process. Oh yes, I guess we could leave off on the process. So you know how the step-by-step process has been sold, has been sold, it's done very well. It's a little marketing scheme about like, here's what you need to do step one, step two, step three, and then you'll have the thing, right? But not everyone is gonna follow that process. That might not feel right to them, it might not be their path. So, what would you say to somebody that's like, Jesus, just somebody tell me what I'm supposed to do and what buttons to press and what person to reach out to, and I'll do it, you know, like or or uh how people uh like people who want to be like a speaker famous or whatever, they'll be like, I just need someone to see me. Like, if someone could just find me and then promote me, you know.

unknown 18:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:33

No, you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_00 18:36

I think something that jumps out for me, Dara, is so many people think it's a massive cliff that they're j they're gonna dive off hill.

SPEAKER_03 18:44

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

And and it's really just a curb.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Take a step off the curb and just take one tiny step, like Sally said. It's it sounds so overwhelming. Like even just me posting video online, I tell my clients to do it all the time. And now I've given myself a goal of filming myself every day. It's super cliff headfirst, but it and now I'm realizing it's not that bad.

SPEAKER_03 19:07

Good job. It's just a little curb. Good one. It's a ramp. Any other final words on that?

SPEAKER_02 19:19

If I could just say to the audience that um whenever a thought comes to you, and you'll be like, oh, that's kind of cool. Could I do that? Or however your head is talking about it, just know that thought came to you, it was divinely orchestrated, and you're meant to hear it or see it or feel it. However, it's coming to you, there's no accidents, everything is purposeful. You're creating this. If you're asking for signs, show me the signs, show me the people, and something shows up and you're going, Oh no, I don't want to do that. Uh, excuse me, what did you just ask for? And be in the vibe of graciousness. Thank you. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for sending me the stuff. Because if you're this open person that is like, okay, show me, show me, show me, show me, and then you're like poo-pooing everything, you're gonna stop getting stuff. And then you'll be going, wham wham, wham, wham, wham. Right. And then you'll wonder why, and it's like stop it. You asked, receive. Like uh Esther Esther Hicks says, ask and it shall be given. And sometimes it's right now, and sometimes it's a little ways down the road. It doesn't matter, it's coming.

SPEAKER_03 20:49

Right. You put it out there, it's in motion, the energy is in motion.

SPEAKER_02 20:53

Yeah, and so you gotta trust and believe.

SPEAKER_03 20:57

Beautiful. Trust and believe, Sally?

SPEAKER_01 21:00

And watch the language you're using. Because if you're asking for a break, it might be your finger.

SPEAKER_03 21:04

Yes.

unknown 21:05

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03 21:07

This just happened to my girlfriend who who uh asked the universe for a break. I just need a break, and she broke her leg so she could write her book. She wanted a break so she could write her book from work, and uh that's exactly what she got.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

Um watch your language.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

That's a hard one because we have um a lot of programming. Stop hard. No, stop, could delete, cancel. Watching our language, yes, means that we need to be present and aware and conscious, and those things are good to do.

SPEAKER_02 21:42

Well, it's not uh what we learned in the get go. We've had to retrain our brain. Um and it's doable. Totally hundred and fifty years old, and and it's doable. You can learn again.

SPEAKER_03 21:56

And again, and again, and again, and keep learning. Yeah, I was listening to Dr. Jodis Spenz's meditation the other day, and he ended with um, you're creating your experiences. And I was like, Oh, so good. Jesus, I gotta remember that. Like every every time I'm in something, doing something, I'm creating it. You know, how I how I'm perceiving this and being in it is my creation. Right? Like it's a lot of response, it's a great responsibility to take on. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 22:26

Course correct there.

SPEAKER_03 22:27

Of course correct. Well, I really appreciate the conversation and you all showing up to share your wisdom and thoughts with uh other leaders that want to step more into their joy, into the thing that they feel like they're here to give and be of service. Um, and they might just have this little wiggle in them where they just needed to hear some words that maybe one of you shared and uh and hopefully they do the thing today. One small step. Thanks, ladies.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

Thank you. Thanks, Sanara.