Episode 1. Season 2. Take 3.

I’m back with another season! Yay! This episode is me easing back into the podcasting groove. Talking through my plans for the season, sharing a few personal stories and offering a gentle reminder that low times never last forever. Excited to be back. Looking forward to whats to come! :) Follow along on IG: @comfortably.uncomfortable321

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:06

Hello, I'm Emily Johnson and you're listening to Comfortably Uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_00: 0:11

This podcast explores the growth, the clarity, and all the beauty that comes along with getting a little uncomfortable. Through personal stories and everyday challenges, we're learning that growth doesn't come from perfection, but from consistency, progress, and vulnerability. If you're choosing growth over comfort and learning to adapt instead of staying completely, welcome back.

SPEAKER_01: 0:30

It's time to get comfortable.

SPEAKER_00: 0:34

I just have to start season two showing love to my guy Sean. DJ No Way once again absolutely kills it with my intro and outro music. I love to hype up my friends, so it's only right to give credit where it's due. This beat gets me so ready for season two. So once again, shout out to my guy. Much love, and I hope you enjoyed the episode. I don't know why I feel so nervous again. Like I've never done this. Like I didn't just do a season with like 18 episodes. Um, but yeah, for some reason I've just had these little jitters getting started again. And I don't know if it's because I haven't really been putting in, you know, much practice, so I haven't been as consistent with it as I was, you know, when I was recording every week. Um, but yeah, I feel like I'm, like I said, just a little nervous doing this. Um, but you know what? I'm excited too because each episode challenges me in a different way, and I feel like I've kind of been missing that, you know, component in my life since I um last recorded. So not necessarily that I'm not challenging myself in other ways, but just this was a creative challenge that I enjoyed having for myself. So I'm I'm glad to be back um doing it because this seems to be a challenge. But um I've kind of been all over the place the past two weeks when it comes to recording this. I have obviously talked about wanting to be on camera, um, like recording my episodes, and originally that was the game plan. However, I tried to do it by myself the other day where I recorded what I thought was gonna be the first episode. Um, and it just wasn't it. Like, I'm just not I'm not ready for it yet, and I'm not giving up on it. Um, but it's just not what I want to focus on right now. Like I want to be able to kind of get my mind right with the direction of this um this season, like the direction I want to go with this season. Um, and the camera was kind of distracting me just because I felt super uncomfortable. And you know what? It kind of the way it worked out was funny because I did like a 45-minute episode, went back to watch it, and it froze at like 20 minutes. So the last half of it was just completely frozen. So I was like, okay, this is a sign I don't need to be using this. And then yesterday, and I could use the audio because I did, you know, second or record it on my phone as well, but I don't know, I just think that the whole situation made me uncomfortable. I wasn't really flowing the way I would have wanted to start my season. Um, so there's that, but then also yesterday, Stevie and I recorded an episode and did it on camera and went back to watch it after an hour and 15 minutes, and it was black. The screen was completely black, like there was not a single glimpse of Stevie or I the whole time. Um so I was like, okay, you know what? The camera thing is just not my thing right now. Um, but also Stevie and I ended up drinking yesterday before recording, and it just sounded so sloppy. So I'm not even not that we sounded sloppy, just our conversation was all over the place, and I was just like, yeah, you know what, this one's not it either. So two strikes. This is the third one. I'm not gonna bust this. I am gonna do what I have in mind, do what I or talk about what I want to talk about. Um, well, for starters, yesterday, like I mentioned, Stevie and I got a little wasted. So today I was struggling a little bit, you know, still had to work, but at the end of the day, I was like, you know, I didn't work out this morning. Let me go on a walk, it'll make me feel better. Um, you know, take advantage of the sun not setting quite as early anymore. So it almost feels like, you know, instead of it getting dark at five, I have till like six. So I just wanted to kind of, you know, take advantage of that situation. Anyways, I ended up going on this walk, and there is this um homeless man who I've seen a couple times, always just has this bright smile, like, you know, super, we never really talk, we never talk, but um just a friendly, you know, encounter. And today I passed him and I talked to him and sounds just like, oh hey, how are you? Like, you know, but kept walking. And then I was like, you know what? Let me go see if he wants anything. Because I was on the street where there's like a bunch of restaurants, Trader Joe's, just little stuff. And I went up to him and I was like, Hey, you know, can I get you anything? And he was like, food would be good, and so I was like, okay, like anything specific. He was like, just something that you know keeps me full, and I was just like, All right, I'm gonna go to Trader Joe's for you. So I went to Trader Joe's and I laughed because I do the most, you know, I could have easily just gotten him a couple things, but I literally went grocery shopping for this man. Like I got him peanut butter and jelly stuff, some chips, some cookies, bread, drinks, you know. Um, I even ordered him a soup from like a restaurant so he could have something warm. And I went back and gave it to him, you know, and then we talked for a minute. I told him everything that was in it, and yeah, his name was Yah, which I thought was cool, and it was so cute because when I was like, Yeah, my name's Emily, he's like, Emily, okay, okay, Emily. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And I was just like, wait, this is this is awesome. Like this, I'm so glad that this was what I was like kind of on my walk for. You know what I mean? I feel like right place, right time. I get such a thrill off of you know doing something like that for someone else. So it was almost like I was rewarded for going on my walk today, but then also I was able to, you know, make this man's night. And he was so appreciative, which made it that much better. I'm only sharing this story, um, not to glow or you know, brag or make myself sound, you know, oh, I'm I'm bragging about how I helped this man. But um no, I'm telling you to inspire you because I think one of the biggest compliments I've gotten even after my season ended, was people reaching out to me to tell me that I've fully inspired them with my podcast. And the people who've reached out to me are very unexpected. I mean, it was like one of my good friends' moms, um, which was awesome to know that she tunes into my podcast. And then one of my old managers from this bar I worked at when I was like 21, he like messaged me and told me that it was very um inspiring for him, something he needed to hear, like whatever. And then even clients. So, I mean, it's just really cool to see that the way I live my life and the things that I love doing are positively impacting people who hear what I talk about. So, again, that's kind of why I shared that story because I'm like, okay, if you ever have a moment where you can do something to give back, like take advantage of it and then just think about how positive it is, like all around. Like I said, that was a reward for me because I like doing that. Like, that makes me feel good to make someone else feel good. So it just felt, I don't know, that much better. But then also the conversation or one of the conversations that Stevie and I had yesterday was about my unique strengths, and we were just talking about unique strengths in general, and he mentioned that one of mine is to kind of think about things like that and go out of my way for others in a way that you know not everybody would think to do. And funny enough, want to do an episode on unique strengths, and it's funny in a sense of um, yeah, that's something I do and I am proud of doing, but like I never saw it as like a quality strength. And I had recently read in a book that it's important for us to ask our loved ones or you know, people closest to us what they see as our unique strength because sometimes for ourselves we don't see it. And so I don't know, I thought that was cool, but but when you hear something like that, it kind of makes you want to hone in on it. You're like, wow, if this is something that not everybody else can do, like let me be the example of doing it. It ties into like one of the episodes I want to talk about unique strengths because I think it is interesting to discover things that you didn't necessarily think were um something as powerful as they are. But yeah, I don't know how far off I got with that story, but that that is like a feel-good thing, and I know that I can hope that that will inspire someone to you know go out of their way when they can. I guess to go into like different episodes I want to discuss this season, and these are just ideas. I figured this would be a nice way to start season one just by talking about what I, you know, see for the future. Um, I've mentioned it before, but friendships and connections, I really want to do an episode on that, and I think the more time that goes by with me not like putting in work for this one, um, I think I'm just kind of like experiencing new situations and having different conversations that are kind of leading me more to like um think about how to go about that episode. I think that will be really amazing, especially if I get different viewpoints from people who value connections, because I think that's so important. Um, non-tangible fears, I feel like would be a good topic to have because I think it will go into depth into thinking what you're scared of and how it's holding you back or affecting you in life. Um, yeah, I think that would be interesting. Um, okay, unique strengths. I mentioned that. The importance of core values. I I don't know, this has been like something that keeps coming up, and I just feel like more I discover like my core values, I realize how it's so important because it affects so many different areas of your life to understand and know what your core value is because then you align everything with that, and things just kind of I don't know, fall easier into place. How different people view self-improvement. And this topic is so interesting to me because on my end, I feel like self-improvement is one of the best things we can do. Like, who doesn't want to continuously get better? And that's like my mindset, right? And I work with this woman who we couldn't be more opposite, but at the same time so similar. And we have opposing views when it comes to this. Like, she is on the other end of hating self-improvement, like thinking that it's just not as amazing as it is. And I don't know, it just baffles me because I just again I don't understand how someone does not want to admit that there's things that they do daily that helps them become a better person, but she doesn't see it like that. And so I don't know, that just got me thinking of how that topic can go into discussion because I'm sure she's not the only one who has that mindset. But like I said, for me, that's just not something I relate to. So it's kind of I think it's gonna be interesting to just have a conversation where we kind of go back and forth with that particular topic. I want to talk about growth in different seasons of life, and I think this one came to me when I was just kind of, I guess this past season, like this was a very slow moving um season of my life right now, and I kind of had to continuously remind myself it's okay that things aren't happening right now for me. Like it's like it's okay that if I feel like I'm not in as tripper of a mood as I was last month, you know, because things are still happening. Like it's okay to feel like we are still growing without actually seeing growth in this moment. December was kind of gloomy, and I think I talked to a lot of different people that felt the same way. And I think when the end of the year rolls around, and you know, we don't we didn't hit maybe all of our goals that we had set out for ourselves, or just I don't know, these little situations that naturally have us feeling kind of like just uh almost numb. I feel like that was kind of the best way to describe December. It was just feeling like I wasn't really internally happy, I was just like in a weird place, and it I felt disconnected because from myself because usually I consider myself to be a pretty um emotionally aware person. And so when I was kind of feeling these little feelings of, I don't know, unhappiness. I don't want to say like sorrow, but I'm just like a very gloomy time. Um I was just kind of reminded that this is normal. This is like the rain that waters a flower, you know, it's not sunshine, so it's not in the best, happiest like state, but it's still in an essential state. Um I hope that came off as good as it sounded in my head. But we'll see when I go back and listen. But yeah, so I just I feel like the more people that I talk to kind of about like weird feelings in December, it was just very um relatable. And I liked that, you know, as selfish as it sounds, that I wasn't alone in that season. Obviously, there's ways to go more in depth with that, and that's why I feel like I could make an episode out of it. Um, I thought about doing like a who am I episode, like where I kind of tell you about me. I don't know. I feel like the more that you listen to something, you kind of want to know more about it. So I don't know, maybe you want to know more about me. And I thought that could be, you know, a fun episode too. Progress over perfection. I don't know if this was gonna be like a whole episode that I wanted to talk about, but I'm sure it could be. Honestly, there's I don't know, that topic could really expand into something, so that could be a cool episode as well. Also, I'm reading this book called Redefining You, and I think that it's just so on point with the way I like to live my life. They even there's even a chapter in that book called Who Are You? And I just thought it was very interesting that this woman wrote about that when I did a whole topic on it for my podcast. So I just thought it was cool that so much of what's in the book is stuff that I talk about. So I figured I could reference that book a lot. Oh, happiness. I actually sent out a mass text to um, it wasn't nearly as many as I did for the episode where I included everybody, but I did ask a lot of people the question, are you genuinely happy? And ironically, I asked myself that question, which I know I'll I'll get to the questions that I asked myself last season, but um one of the questions I asked myself was, Are you genuinely happy? And obviously, when I asked myself that question back in October, I was like in such a great space to answer that question confidently and be like, Yes, I am so genuinely happy. And then even in November, I still had that, you know, high of happiness. And um then December came along and I was, like I mentioned, not really feeling happy. It wasn't like it was like an emotional, I'm crying all December. Like that wasn't the case. It was just like, like I said, just kind of numb feeling. And um, so then I kind of started freaking myself out because I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm doing an episode on happiness next season, and I'm not even happy right now. Like, I think that the if I start talking about happiness in this state of mind that I'm currently in, it would not go in the direction that I thought it would. And now here we are in January and I'm happy again. But you know what's funny about me saying that is I was I was genuinely happy. Long term, I am on a path that truly makes me happy. But again, like I was saying, like the season, the time, the time of in the timing of it, I was just in a weird place, but it didn't make me less happy. I just think if I was actually talking about it, I would have had more of a I don't know, like a I don't want to say a negative view, but I think it would have just not gone into the way that I originally had in mind, which is okay because I think now that I experienced that a little bit in between feeling super happy to kind of not, I think it will be a cool topic to talk about the different stages of happiness or even like what defines it. And I don't know, I think that would be a cool conversational episode. And I go to say that because a lot of people did send me their responses of are you genuinely happy? And they were great, but it kind of made me feel like this is a topic that should be discussed and not just you know compiled with a bunch of words voice memos. I think it could be conversational, so I'm sure there is gonna be people that I will end up having this conversation with and then kind of using that as the episode. Um, but that's just an idea. Who knows how it's gonna play out? But I did like that. That's kind of where my mind went with that. But let's see the questions I asked myself. Actually, let me go back into what I'm talking about for the season. Um, actually, one of the questions I asked myself was what do I hope for for the season? So I can go into talking about that. Um I want to be able to leave more of an impact. This has been such a rewarding little project for me, and I just want to be able to evolve and help other people who, you know, gain from this evolve. And I think the more we all do it, the more results we see. So I want to, you know, keep the fire alive. And um yeah, I just I hope to inspire. I want to continue to challenge myself and the people who, you know, gain from this. I also want to include more deep conversations and have more engaging episodes with, you know, people who have been on and just like different people. Like, I kind of want to don't want to I almost don't want to limit it to just talking to my friends or people I know. Like maybe I'll at some point kick it up a notch and talk to other people. In fact, maybe I don't know. I just had this like little thought of yeah, the homeless guy I met, if he's still there, maybe one day I can like pull up next to him and talk to him about any of my related topics. Um, so yeah, this this episode's kind of fun for me because I'm on a whim. I like I told you, was kind of nervous getting started. I didn't really um, as always, have like a plan, but I was just like just I started trying to like write down things, but I was like, no, just get started. Come on, just do it. So I feel good. I feel like I'm like getting my getting into my groove the more I'm talking, but I also don't want to keep talking for that much longer. I wanted to talk about the EXO series because I never mention like how long I would do it, how often I would do it, or anything. And so it's funny because I know I only did one episode from it, but it doesn't mean that I won't ever come on and do it again, you know. Like I didn't want it to be a frequent thing, but I don't want you to think that I like gave up on doing it. I'm just I don't know, kind of I guess doing it when I feel like it's appropriate to do, you know. So that's kind of my vibe with that. Also, I think I'm going to be doing bi-weekly episodes instead of weekly episodes. I just don't want to burn myself out and I don't really have the time like I used to. So I really just think that would be in my best interest and like yours too, because I don't want to feel as if like I'm rushing through things every week, knowing that the timing for me would be a little a little hard. Um, so I think bi-weekly is gonna be the move, and you know, maybe I'll change my mind on that, but I I think that, like I said, would be the best option. And yeah, I mentioned the questions earlier. I do know I have some questions to answer. However, I'm not gonna answer all of them right now. I will answer them throughout the season, but um, I'm not ready to answer some of them yet. So I'll just go into a few of them. One of the questions is what's one of the best things that have happened over the last three months? Um I had been in, you know, like the training program at work when I first started there back in August, and it was going to be three months instead of a year. And in the time of those three months, it felt like it was taking forever. Like I felt like I was never going to get out of that program. But then once I um did, and now I'm on the floor taking my own clients and I'm just doing my own thing, like it's such a different grind, and it feels so good to be back in my element with this because obviously I've been doing hair for several years before that, but it was just part of what I had to do when I got hired here. And honestly, it was such a great experience. Like, I really have no complaints. Um the time ended up flying by and I'm kind of killing it now. So it's such a good feeling to just be in a different place than I was three months ago because this is just kind of opening up different um opportunities for me in so many different ways. So that is easily one of the best things that has happened to me. What's the hardest thing? It's funny because in November I was like, you know what? Everything is just so dandy. Like there was no complaints. I was maybe on a high of November, like life was just really good. Um, and then December came along, and like I mentioned, I was just kind of in a weird place. And so I think the hardest thing that I endured within the past three months was just kind of embracing those new changes of emotions, like just the feeling of not feeling as motivated or you know, driven, just kind of feeling gloomy, not really in the best state of mind. I was kind of focusing more on, you know, just like the blah mood I was in. So I feel like that was kind of a hard little um stint in time, but you know, it's temporary, it is no longer an issue, and you know, things like that do come in waves, so it's not ever gonna happen again where you know you feel like you're not in the best mood or place. But a little reminder, it's it's temporary. What do I do daily that makes me uncomfortable? I would say something that I am doing daily that makes me uncomfortable is just I guess like trusting my instinct and not second guessing myself when it comes to anything. I think sometimes that is uncomfortable because you like prevent yourself from doing what you originally wanted to do. And so I like kind of speak up more, or I will, you know, maybe compliment someone in a setting where it's like, oh, don't, you know, don't talk to them right now. But I'm like, no, you know, like I say what I I want to say um whenever I want to say it. And I think sometimes it just puts you in a very vulnerable position, but I've been enjoying doing that. I feel like it is uncomfortable at times, but that is something that I'm like doing more of to get, I guess, more comfortable with it. So yeah, that is what I would say is something I do daily. Um, what am I currently doing for fun? I've been going to meditation classes, and you know, I love to meditate, or I guess I don't even know if it would be considered a class. I mean, it's not like they're teaching us how to meditate, you're just like going to a meditation. And um, I've been going to a studio for that, and it's been so nice. I thoroughly enjoy it because I do a lot of meditation on my own, but when you're in an environment where you're surrounded by other people who are kind of doing it too, it just like I don't know, it's a it's a whole different feeling, and I've really found enjoyment in that. So I would say that is something that I've been incorporating that is fun for me lately. I've gone to like stuff like that previously, but never as consistently as I have been um over the last few months. So yeah, I've been really enjoying that. And what else? I guess I'll leave those questions um or I'll answer those for now, and then in an upcoming episode, I could answer the other questions. Um but let's see what else. Oh, something else I want to talk about that I implemented last, or I guess I started doing it in November, and it's funny because it came to me as a shower thought, but I was like, oh, I'm going to start doing these things every day called high lows. And basically, what they are is every day I write down a high that I had and then a low. But what I do is I reframe the low by turning it into something high or like turning it into a more positive situation so it doesn't feel like it's a low. Okay, so for example, this one was one of my coworkers took me out for drinks to celebrate my floor date, and that was really sweet because we had a good dynamic at work, but like the two of us going out to um for drinks was just very like unexpected, and it was so sweet because he was like adamant on being like, Oh, I gotta take you out, you know, for your um for your floor date. Like that's exciting. Um, so that was really special. And then my low that day was leaving behind the friends that I've met, but still made the connection that will last. So that's how I reframed it. It was like, okay, so oh, I guess in this context, sorry, I'm all over the place. Um, the salon that I'm working at, so there's two locations, and when I first got hired on, they pretty much kept me at one location because that's where they were gonna put me on the floor, like that's where the whole game plan was for me to go. So I never was at the other location. I think I was there like one other time. Um, however, someone ended up quitting from the location that I was never at. So when it was, you know, time for me to be on the floor, they were like, Well, you know, that's kind of where you're gonna go. Um, they were really kind though. They were like, if it's if that is not something that you are like wanting to do, like please be honest with us. But you know, I think if there's anything I've learned this year, it's don't get too comfortable, you know, like just don't. So I had no problem really trying to adapt to the unfamiliar by going to the other location. But I did, and so that's kind of what I was referencing. I was like, dang, like I had spent, you know, my whole training program working with all these people at one location, built my relationships up, and then you know, next thing you know, I'm not at that one anymore. Basically, that's how I reframed it by saying, but you know, still I made the connections that will last. And that's so true because even now I go to workout classes with some of them. I'm you know in touch with them. I went the other day to see them, you know what I mean? So it's just I still do have these relationships, even if it's not in the workplace, but also like it just worked out so perfectly that I'm at the location that I'm at because it's just I don't it just it's just where I'm meant to be. So it's um it's honestly awesome. And yeah, I think that's kind of what I meant when I was like, you just never get too comfortable because if you hold on to these expectations of how you want things to be, then you're essentially resisting what's meant to come. And um, if you just kind of adapt to it and don't get too comfortable and kind of just like go with the flow, then you're opening yourself up to opportunities and seeing things for um what they are. But my mic just died, both of them are dead, so now I know the quality of this sound is going to not be consistent or probably even that great because I'm talking without a mic, but um maybe this is my time to wrap it up. So yeah, I oh I do want to end with something, and one of my friends gave me this book called A Year of Positive Thinking, and it's daily inspiration, wisdom, and courage. And it's funny because when she um she told me that when she got this book, she saw it and was like, oh my god, this is perfect for Emily, and her mom was like, Oh, is Emily not a positive thinker? And she was like, No, like Emily is such a positive thinker, so this is up her alley, and it is, and I love it, but basically, it gives you daily inspiration every day. Um, I thought what I would try to do is read whatever day it is anytime I'm recording, so I can share the inspiration with you. So today is January 20th, and it is worthiness is a choice. You are worthy, more worthy than you will ever understand. But the only one who can ultimately determine that reality is you. So that's some a powerful note to leave you on. Um, but yeah, shout out to Jamie because I love this um and I'm so excited to incorporate this daily because you already know I'm gonna throw it on my habit tracker, it's already there, and um scratch it off every day when I do it and hold myself accountable because who doesn't want a nice reaffirming um affirmation or you know motivation, inspiration, wisdom? So yeah, this was fun. This was fun to be back. I finally loosened up. This is um I'm I'm excited to share with you, and I'm excited for this season. I am excited to hear from you guys again because that was the highlight of every episode was just kind of connecting with different people who were listening, and that makes me happy. I love y'all. Thank you for tuning in, and I will see you in a couple weeks. Or I guess I won't see you. Maybe you'll see me. Maybe by then my camera setup will be something that I'm proud of, and who knows, maybe I'll just continue to practice until I feel like it could be um a little bit more to my liking.

SPEAKER_01: 30:53

I hope this episode gave you a little something to take with you. Whether it was a moment of reflection, a shift in perspective, a little laugh, or just a glimpse of a smile. Forever grateful for your love and support. Till next time, XOXL.