The End Ep.17

In this final episode of my first season I talk about how incredible of a journey it's been over these past 4 months. I talk about my personal and podcast growth and how this project became something really special and meaningful in my life.

I chat about what I’ve learned through this experience about growth, creativity, and connection as well as how grateful I am for everyone who’s been showing love and support from the very beginning. Seriously, means the world. 💛

If you’re not already, follow me on Instagram to stay connected and keep up with what’s to come! @comfortably.uncomfortable321 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:03

Hi, I'm Emily Johnson and you're listening to Comfortably Uncomfortable, a podcast about discovering the beauty, the benefits, and the unexpected breakthroughs that come from stepping outside of our comfort zones. This isn't about having it all figured out, but rather showing vulnerability through personal stories and everyday situations that challenge us to grow. If you're on a journey of self-discovery and growth, you're in the right place. Stay tuned, and together we can get comfortably uncomfortable. Well, here it is. The final episode, episode 17. That number honestly blows my mind because if you remember back in episode one, I was terrified, like genuinely scared and fearful and resistant, um, insecure, just fully unsure of myself and this whole podcast. I was so deep in my own head, not feeling confident about anything that I was putting out there. And it's so funny because all those feelings showed up before I even released a single episode. Like I was already doubting something that I haven't even given myself the chance to try. So, first of all, I have to shout out my girl Alexia because, like I mentioned way back in episode one, she was the one who lit that fire under my butt to just go for it. She told me straight up, basically, you know, forget the outline, forget the plan, forget trying to make it perfect and just start. Just see what happens, see how it will naturally flow and evolve. And I took the chance and did it. And I mean, it really was because of her. I could go on a whole nother tangent about that, but I feel like that itself just shows how important it is to surround yourself with supportive people who have your best interests because this really started when it did because of that little push that I got from her. But, anyways, enough about her. Um, but she was right, you know, the moment I finally took that first step, everything started to unfold and flow in a way that I truly couldn't have imagined. I mean, I had goals, right? Like I set goals in the beginning and I had things that I wanted to achieve. And when she asked me in that first episode what I had hoped to achieve with this podcast, I think I said something like, I want to leave a positive impact, inspire, spread kindness, add humor, and just talk about real life stuff. And looking back, I did that. I can confidently check all those boxes. From the feedback I got each week, it was very clear that people were connecting. And I was leaving the kind of impact that I had hoped for. And honestly, I think I left even more than what I had hoped for. But this podcast ended up meaning more to me than I truly expected. I mean, of course, I knew that I was going to be proud of it because I put in a ton of work and I cared about, you know, the project so deeply. I think that's why I was so focused on trying to perfect it. But I really didn't consider everything that this podcast would bring me, you know, like reconnecting with old friends. I mean, the amount of friends who reached out to me after hearing my first episode, like people I hadn't talked to in years, just to show me love and support and just excitement for what I was doing, touched me in ways that I really can't explain. I mean, I say all the time how much I value connection, and I typically am so good about staying connected with people. But you know, um, life life, time slips away, and before you know it, years pass before you have another conversation with someone who was so meaningful to you at one point. So having this podcast to reconnect was just a gift itself because I really did not expect that. But yeah, I feel like I also reached more people than I ever expected. I mean, the feedback and the consistency, the messages from people every week, it really stayed steady through my whole 17 episodes. And it just means so much to me. I'm grinning so like big right now. It just showed me that people were not only listening, but they were feeling what I was putting out there. Like I really feel as if I impacted so many people in ways that I don't even fully understand yet. But aside from like things like that, I've grown not just you know within my podcast, but as a person. And I can feel it. Like I feel that I am a better communicator, and I'm not perfect. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I'm definitely further than where I started, and that means a lot. Um, there's this phrase that I can't remember exactly how it goes, but it's just kind of something along the lines of like, you know, sometimes we forget how far we've come because we're so focused on where we're going. And that hits me every time I reach a new level because I look back and I'm like, damn, I remember when I wanted to achieve this, but I forgot because I had already set myself up to, you know, look for something else to achieve. In the moment, you know, we don't always see our progress because we're focused on what's next and what we still want to do and what we haven't accomplished yet. But I don't know, I feel like this has kind of helped me pause and appreciate everything that has led up to being where I am right now. But yeah, I mean, I'm I'm so proud. I am proud that I faced, you know, my fears. I am proud of the stories that I was able to share, the connections that I built, and you know, the version of myself that showed up at all levels, or I guess I could say at every emotion I was feeling, because when I like reflect on what I did throughout this podcast, I mean I was laughing on here, I was crying, I was sharing things that were challenging and hard, but I was also sharing things that, you know, made me happy and fulfilled. And so I feel like I really was able to kind of just give a little bit of me, give a lot of me, actually. And I loved that so many people not only connected with it, but shared with me how they connected with it. Part of the growth that I saw in myself, aside from you know, communication, was just how much more vulnerable I allowed myself to be on here and within my, you know, real life relationships, like the people that I talk to often, or you know, the people that I meet on a day-to-day, just so many different connections that I was able to be, I guess not even just vulnerable, but like be authentic. I was always so fully ready to just give me and give a version of me that I am proud of, if that makes sense. Um yeah, I mean, I just think that again, not only with like communication and vulnerability, I feel like I gained a new level of confidence because in times that I was fully doubting myself, or even throughout the podcast, when I would, you know, make a comment in an episode that might have been tearing me down a little bit, I would always have someone reaching out to me to hype me up, you know, be like, don't think about yourself like that. Like you're amazing. You know, just like little things like that kind of gave me a little bit more confidence to, I guess, walk with my head a little higher. Um let me see what else. I guess I'm using this episode to really just kind of reflect on how I feel like I've evolved and just how the season, you know, transpired over the last four months. I I really can't get over the fact that I had 17 episodes when I was so scared to even start one. So, I mean, that alone is just growth. But I feel proud that I was able to inspire so many people. I think with just the way that I live my life in terms of the way I treat people. I think the way that I show kindness was very much seen by so many people because they always shared with me how it inspired them to do something kind or whatnot. Um, but it's it this is interesting because I know some people will be like, but you're always friendly, you always do this, whatever. I really stepped out of my comfort zone daily. I would really be intentional. Well, side note, my mom actually one day sent me a list of synonyms for the words intentional. I guess she was insinuating that I used that word too often. So one word I picked up from that was deliberate. Um, I would deliberately try to go out of my way to engage with strangers and interact with strangers on a day-to-day. Whether I would, you know, hype them up in the gym or, you know, get caught up in a conversation at the coffee shop or whatever it was. I was very, damn, I really want to use the word intentional. I was very intentional, hey mom, about doing that. Um, and that I feel like because I started to really live the way I wanted to um talk about. Like I lived the way that I feel like one should if they wanted to be comfortably uncomfortable. And that goes the same for my habits and my routines and my discipline and you know, just the balance that I like to maintain in my everyday life. I wanted to have something that I could do not only to inspire myself, but to continue to inspire others. Um, I feel like so many of my friends, you know, would reach out to me and tell me the things that they started implementing just based off of what I talked about, like habit tracking and journaling and words of affirmation, gratitude, meditating, just all the small practices that I've talked about that make me feel good inspired them. And it's just such an honor to see that so many of my friends wanted to give it a try just because they could see how it helped me grow and change for the better over time. But yeah, I mean, overall, so much growth within myself and the podcast. I mean, even little things that are kind of irrelevant, but irrelevant to the podcast, but relevant to my life. Um, I discovered my love languages based off of this. And long story short, I figured out it was words of affirmation. And it's so funny that I never really tied that together, even knowing you know, what the five love languages are. But I will say this podcast helped me discover that because the words that I received from people when they would talk to me about any of my episodes or just anything in general really just made me feel like that was what I was drawn to. Words of affirmation. So I don't know. I thought that was cool that I could, you know, discover something like that. Um, but yeah, I mean, overall, I'm just so grateful. And I want to take a moment to just truly reflect on how grateful I am. I am grateful for my growth within this podcast. I am grateful for the support and the love that I've received from the very beginning. I'm grateful for the encouragement and the authenticity and vulnerability that you shared with me. It's truly meant so much. I am just so grateful for you being part of this journey with me. A journey that I guess I didn't even know where it would take me. When I first started this season, I was curious about, you know, what it really means to thrive in discomfort. I wanted to see how pushing myself out of my comfort zone could shape not only my life, but also the lives of others around me, because uneasy or unfamiliar settings always force us to evolve. And I think there's just something special about leaning into that discomfort that challenges us and, you know, ultimately helps us grow in ways that we don't expect. Um, so yeah, through this process, I think the support has been a reminder that growth isn't just a personal journey because every time someone reached out to tell me how an episode resonated with them or just opened up to me about their own experiences, it really reinforced the beauty between vulnerability and authenticity. And I just couldn't be more happy to be part of it, or I guess I should again say grateful. My podcast created a little community of like-minded friends, and I'm so happy about it. I mean, even just like my Instagram page on my podcast, I feel like for so long I've just kind of been posting on that because it feels like a safe place. Like it just feels like everybody who's there is there to fully show love and support without judgment, even if there is, you know, natural judgment that comes with whatever I post. Because, like I've said before, I'm in there like doing these little videos and whatnot that I do actually want to keep up with because I don't know, I feel like it's a great way for me to practice getting, you know, comfortable on camera because, like I've mentioned, I want to eventually, you know, turn this into something like that. But also just when I leave like a morning motivational message for you, it's just it's always well received. So I feel like that just kind of makes me happy that someone is gaining from something that I am sharing authentically. But yeah, I mean, I thought about giving like little life updates before I disappear for three months because that is when I think I will start back up. I think January will be a good time to um start season two. I think by then, you know, holiday chaos will have slowed down. I will be in a different position in my career for the better. Um I mean, I think more opportunities would have presented themselves by then. And yeah, I mean, like I've said before, I think now is the appropriate time to stop. And I can't wait to really work on all these ideas that I have floating around my head and really be able to put my all into it without rushing it. Um, so yeah, I mean, I don't even know what's to come, but I'm excited for it, and I feel like that's the beauty in this. That is the beauty in this discomfort right now is I don't know what to expect, but all I can really do is just take a step forward and see where it takes me. But one thing that I did think was gonna be cool was to ask myself questions now that I could answer for the start of season two. I'm gonna ask my future self, am I seriously dating? Because I keep toying around with the idea of being in a relationship, but I have still not put in any effort to get me to be in a relationship. However, I am more open to it now than I ever have been. So I'm curious what the three months from now will bring. But also, what's one of the best things that has happened over the last three months? What's the hardest thing? Am I consistently habit tracking? What do I hope for for this season? What do I do daily that makes me uncomfortable? What am I currently doing for fun? And am I genuinely happy? Well, this has truly been such a meaningful experience. I mean, I never really knew where it would take me, but I can honestly say that I'm just so pleased with where I am. So thank you again for being part of this journey with me. I'm really looking forward to embracing what's next and seeing where this path leads. So hopefully you stay tuned for next season. I hope you were able to connect with this episode to some degree, whether it was through laughs, aha moments, or even just a little encouragement. Any and all feedback is welcome, and as always, your time spent listening is greatly appreciated. Grateful for you all. Till next time. XOXL.